Curriculum Enhancement

SPOKEN LANGUAGE

Developing language skills is at the heart of education and learning. Our curriculum ensures that children are taught to speak clearly and convey ideas confidently using Standard English. They also learn to justify ideas with reasons; ask questions to check understanding; develop vocabulary and build knowledge; negotiate; evaluate and build on the ideas of others. They are taught to give well-structured descriptions and explanations and develop their understanding through speculating, hypothesising and exploring ideas. This enables them to clarify their thinking as well as organise their ideas for writing.

PHONICS

We follow the  Jolly Phonics programme to teach phonics.  

In the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 phonics is taught daily at a discrete dedicated time. Children are grouped in their classes according to the phase they are working at. Weekly spelling investigations are usually matched to the work that has been covered in Jolly Phonics that week.

Suggested websites

• BBC – there are a number of resources available through the BBC website, for example:

​         http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks1/literacy/phonics/play/

         http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/index.shtml

• Family Learning:

         http://www.familylearning.org.uk/phonics_games.html

• Phonics Play – this is a subscription website. We have paid for in school use and the children are familiar with the games on it. Unfortunately, the subscription does not extend to home use, but individual subscriptions are available to purchase. Some games are free to play.

         http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/

• ICT games

         http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html

• Letters and Sounds – we use this website in school for resources and games. There are useful online games accessible via this website for example:

          http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/phase-4-games.html

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

The statutory Year 1 Phonics Screening Check which will take place during a specific week in June. Every child in the Year 1 cohort will complete the check.

The check is a list of 40 words which children will read one -to-one with a familiar teacher in school.  It will assess phonics skills and knowledge learned through Reception and Year 1.

It will check that your child can:

• Sound out and blend graphemes in order to read simple words e.g. n-igh-t
• Read phonically decodable one-syllable and two-syllable words, e.g. cat, sand, windmill.
• Read a selection of nonsense words which are referred to as ‘pseudo words’.

Parents are informed of their child’s progress from the checks in the end of year school report to parents.

READING

Reading consists of two dimensions:

• word reading

• comprehension - both listening and reading​

Our creative curriculum offers the opportunity to embed their core literacy learning by use of a range of engaging quality texts and learning opportunities.  Emphasis is placed on our children learning to develop confident communication skills across a range of genres and using a variety of media. We aim to develop good speakers and listeners, as well as engaged writers and readers, who enjoy conveying their ideas to others and entering the wonderful world of books. At Chorlton C of E we want to equip children with the ability and knowledge to be lifelong readers.  Over the course of the year, students are encouraged to read a range of books and do as good readers do in exploring different genres, authors and texts.

Accelerated Reader

When our children reach key Stage 2, they have access to accelerated reader, which is a comprehensive and safe computer programme that accurately assesses and monitors their reading. The first element is a Star Reading assessment which consists of multiple choice questions including grammar and comprehension skills. Once completed it gives a reading range which is in points and the children can read any books within that range. These points relate to the books they can choose in the school library. The second element is a quiz that the children do about the book they have just read. Class Teachers and Miss Matthews (who is the lead in this programme) regularly monitor children’s progress and are looking for a consistent 85% result on the quizzes. This programme enables our children to be independent in their reading and encourages them to challenge themselves.

Guided reading sessions provide regular opportunities for children to practice and develop their skills. We also promote independent reading. We follow the National book banding scheme comprising of various reading schemes including:

• Oxford Reading Tree

• Stanley Thornes

• Story Worlds 

• Treetops Discovery

• Puffin

• Bug Club (Pearson)
• Discovery World  
• DK Texts

WRITING

Writing consists of two dimensions:

• transcription - spelling and handwriting

• composition - articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing

Writing is an important focus at Chorlton C of E and we ensure it is incorporated across the whole curriculum. We aim to provide a purpose for writing and make topics fun, engaging and inspirational to promote a love for learning. Children are encouraged to not only write to the best of their ability, but also to independently improve and edit their own and other's work.

The children have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of texts to support and enhance their learning. These have been carefully chosen so that the children's progress is structured and appropriate to their ability. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction books are used to develop children's understanding of a range of genres. All aspects of literacy are developed including phonics, comprehension skills, writing, speaking and listening and drama. Where possible these are linked to cross curricular topics. 

HANDWRITING 

In Foundation Stage and KS1 we have introduced the Letter-join curvise handwriting scheme. As the children move through school they will continue to use the scheme through KS2. 

English Curriculum