English

Statement of Intent:

Our English curriculum promotes and facilitates spoken and written fluency, ensuring that pupils have the skills and confidence to communicate their ideas and emotions in a variety of ways. Reading fuels development in all other aspects of language ability and skill.  It enriches pupils culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Engagement with high quality contemporary and classic literature is integral to this endeavour.  Through reading, pupils are able to acquire knowledge, make connections and further build on what they know.  For pupils to engage fully in society, it is essential that they develop fluency in literacy.  Fluency and confidence in written and spoken communication support the development of knowledge and skills across all other areas of the curriculum. 

The ‘Big Ideas’:

The ‘Big Ideas’ in our English curriculum are: fluency and comprehension, communication, expression and enrichment.  These form an integral part of the development of skills and the learning of key concepts in this area of the curriculum.

The Power of Reading 

At Chelmondiston C of E Primary School, we use The Power of Reading to develop sequences of learning in English.  Class Teachers choose from the wide range of quality children's literature compiled by the CLPE (Centre for Language and Primary Education), selecting texts that complement learning in other curriculum subjects and making choices with a particular class in mind.  By using the Power of Reading, we secure high levels of engagement in English lessons as children use their imagination to explore complex moral issues through role-play and reflection, discussion and writing in role.  By going deeply into books in this way, by having the children write for a range of purposes in response to the text, and by making character exploration integral to learning, the children develop a special bond with the characters and subject matter at hand, enriching them socially, emotionally and linguistically.  

To ensure our pupils are exposed to a balance of fiction, non-fiction and poetry each academic year, Teachers refer to the document below that showcases examples of texts that have linked well with the rest of our curriculum thus far.  As new books are released for use by the CLPE and as Teachers discover other potential books for use, they are added to our expanding list of high-quality children's literature.