English, Reading & Phonics
At Sunning Hill Primary, we follow the EYFS Framework and the National Curriculum, statutory programme of study for English at KS1 & KS2. We deliver a high quality English curriculum using Pathways to Write. Units of work are delivered using high quality texts and children are given varied opportunities for writing. Skills are built up through repetition within the units and children apply these skills in their writing. There are many opportunities for widening children’s vocabulary and developing their confidence in speaking and listening which builds on the extensive work we do across the curriculum to provide our children with a rich and varied vocabulary. Our English curriculum is carefully planned to meet the needs of all our children.
Nursery children begin their phonics journey with ‘language through listening’ before being introduced to our systematic synthetic phonics programme: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, Foundations for Phonics. Little Wandle continues in Reception and Year 1, starting at phase two. Phonics teaches children to learn and recognise grapheme-phoneme correspondence which will then help them to decode and read words with understanding and confidence. Little Wandle uses a very structured approach that is supported by reading practice sessions using fully decodable books matched to the children’s secure phonic knowledge. From Years 2 to 6, school follows the Pathways to Read programme for all children to teach reading skills, develop reading fluency and to further develop a love of reading.
Our curriculum promotes high standards of language and literacy by developing children’s command of the spoken and written word, promoting a love of literature through widespread reading for learning and enjoyment. Our children are encouraged to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually by reading carefully selected texts and develop their ability to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
Useful websites
