We would expect children to make progress in all areas of Speaking and Listening, and Reading and Writing. In the Nursery and Early years the children will follow the Foundation level guidance and in Year 1 and above they will follow the National Curriculum and the National Literacy Strategy. Language skills develop from all teaching that goes on in the classroom.

We believe that all children should learn to read and in the early stages we concentrate on teaching phonics and a knowledge of basic words by sight. At a later stage – when children know all their letter sounds and about 100 words – they are ready to ‘sound out’ words. Parents can help at home by practicing letter sounds. All children should take home a book daily to read to an adult. Using the National Literacy Strategy frequently means teachers do not have sufficient time to hear individual children read in school every day. Parents of children in Key Stage 1 are invited to read with their children in school at 8.35.

Children are encouraged to read as much as possible and to regard reading as a source of pleasure. It is important to develop the reading skills necessary to extract relevant information from a wide range of sources and this is encouraged through carrying out research in different topics. However, we also use a selection of structured programmes to develop basic skills. General comprehension, vocabulary and grammar are taught using a wide range of resources. There is a well-stocked library in the school, to which all children have access.

Some children have difficulty with reading, and a range of special programmes is planned for these children, in co-operation with their parents. The school has built up considerable resources and expertise to help children with a wide range of reading difficulties.

Children are encouraged to write fluently, accurately and imaginatively. Writing skills are developed alongside reading skills. Poetry, writing and drama are introduced to develop confidence in self-expression.

Our spelling scheme includes a graded list of spellings to learn each week and be tested on.