English

English at St John's

We want every child to read widely, write with purpose and speak with confidence. English is taught every day, and children use their reading, writing and talk across the whole curriculum, often writing for the real audiences their Mantle of the Expert commissions create.

  •        Reading: a daily reading lesson. Teachers read aloud from a rich class reader, then children practise the skills they need to understand what they read. Phonics is taught through FFT Success for All, followed by FFT Routes to Reading.
  •        Writing: our English long-term plan sets out the stories, non-fiction and poetry each year group writes, linked to their History and Geography so children write about what they know.
  •        Grammar: taught as a tool for better writing, at the point children need it, following our grammar plan.
  •        Spelling: taught through FFT Spelling with the Jungle Club.
  •        Oracy: we use the Voice 21 framework. Each half term has an oracy focus, from using gesture in Year 2 to debating and persuading in Year 6.