Our English Curriculum

At Medstead CE Primary School, we believe that English is at the heart of all learning. Through reading, writing, speaking and listening, children learn to communicate effectively, make sense of the world around them and express their ideas with confidence and creativity. We are committed to developing enthusiastic readers, skilled writers and articulate speakers who are prepared for success both in school and beyond.

Language development is woven through every aspect of our curriculum. We recognise that a rich vocabulary is fundamental to children's academic achievement and future success. Therefore, we provide frequent opportunities for children to explore, discuss and apply new vocabulary across all subjects. Through high-quality texts, purposeful classroom dialogue and explicit vocabulary teaching, children are encouraged to become confident communicators who can select language thoughtfully and precisely.

Developing strong oracy skills is also a key priority. Children are taught how to listen carefully, articulate their ideas clearly, justify their opinions and engage respectfully in discussion. Through activities such as partner talk, presentations, drama, debate and collaborative learning, pupils learn to communicate effectively with different audiences and for a range of purposes.

Reading opens doors to knowledge, imagination and opportunity. Writing gives children a voice, enabling them to inform, entertain, persuade, inspire and share their thoughts with others. Together with strong speaking and listening skills, these experiences foster a lifelong love of language and literature while equipping children with the essential communication skills they need for the future.

Spoken language

At Medstead, we recognise that developing strong oracy and listening skills is fundamental to children's success across the curriculum and beyond. We believe that spoken language is the foundation of learning, enabling pupils to think critically, communicate effectively and build positive relationships.

Through purposeful talk, discussion and collaboration, pupils develop the confidence and skills to express their ideas clearly, articulate their understanding and engage thoughtfully with the views of others. High-quality speaking and listening opportunities help children broaden their vocabulary, develop their grammar and deepen their understanding of what they read and write.

Oracy is woven throughout our curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, explain their thinking, justify their opinions and participate in meaningful discussions and debates. Teachers support children in refining their ideas, addressing misconceptions and developing the language needed to become confident communicators and successful learners.

Drama also plays an important role in developing pupils' oracy skills. Through role play, storytelling, improvisation and performance, children have opportunities to explore different perspectives, build empathy and communicate with a range of audiences. Pupils learn to adopt, create and sustain roles, work collaboratively and respond thoughtfully to the contributions of others.

By fostering excellent oracy and listening skills, we empower our pupils to become confident, articulate and respectful communicators who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond the classroom.

Reading

At Medstead, we strive to develop confident, fluent readers who read widely, think critically and enjoy books throughout their lives. Our reading journey begins in the Early Years, where children are immersed in a language-rich environment filled with stories, rhymes, songs and opportunities for talk. Early reading experiences are carefully planned to promote a love of books and support children's communication and language development.

Early Reading and Phonics

In Reception and Key Stage 1, children follow the Read Write Inc. phonics programme. This systematic synthetic phonics approach helps children develop the essential skills needed to decode, read fluently and become confident readers. Children take home fully decodable books that closely match the sounds they have been taught in school, ensuring they experience success and build confidence as readers. Phonics teaching takes place daily and is reinforced through a range of engaging, practical activities. Alongside their phonically decodable books, children are encouraged to share a wide variety of books at home with parents and carers to develop their enjoyment of reading and broaden their vocabulary. You can find out more about how we teach phonics and early reading here.

Developing Reading Skills

As children progress through the school, reading teaching evolves to help them become increasingly thoughtful and independent readers. Through guided reading, shared reading and whole-class reading sessions, children learn to:

• Retrieve and record information
• Make predictions and inferences
• Discuss themes and characters
• Explore vocabulary and authorial choices
• Summarise key ideas
• Explain and justify opinions using evidence from texts

Teachers carefully select high-quality texts that form part of each year group's reading spine. These texts reflect a diverse range of authors, genres, themes and experiences, helping children develop both their reading skills and their understanding of the wider world.

Promoting a Love of Reading

Reading for pleasure is central to our English curriculum. Every classroom contains a welcoming reading area stocked with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, magazines and graphic texts. Children also have regular access to our school library and enjoy borrowing books to take home. We celebrate reading through:

• Story Wings reading awards
• World Book Day
• Author visits and workshops
• Reading challenges and competitions
• School Library Service initiatives
• Book-themed enrichment events

Every child has a Reading Record that supports communication between home and school and encourages children to reflect on their reading journey. Our aim is for every child to leave Medstead as a fluent, confident and enthusiastic reader who understands the value of books, enjoys reading for pleasure and uses reading as a tool to explore and understand the world around them. We value the partnership between home and school and encourage families to share books regularly, discuss stories together and support children in developing positive reading habits that will last a lifetime.

Writing

Our writing curriculum is carefully designed to support all children in becoming confident, purposeful and effective writers. Using the Hampshire Assessment Model, teachers plan progressive learning journeys that develop children's knowledge, skills and understanding from their individual starting points.

Writing units are driven by high-quality texts chosen for their rich language, engaging content and relevance to wider curriculum themes. Across the school, children encounter a carefully planned range of text drivers, including classic and contemporary fiction, poetry, picture books, non-fiction texts and significant literary works. These texts inspire discussion, deepen understanding and provide meaningful contexts for writing.

Each writing journey begins with an engaging stimulus or "hook". This might be a high-quality text, a dramatic experience, a piece of artwork, music, film, an educational visit or a real-life event. These experiences capture children's imagination and create authentic reasons to write.

Throughout a unit, children:

• Explore and analyse high-quality model texts
• Generate and develop ambitious vocabulary
• Learn and apply grammar and punctuation in context
• Build knowledge of different text types and genres
• Plan, draft, edit and improve their writing
• Write for a range of audiences and purposes
• Publish and celebrate their finished work

Teachers model the writing process regularly, helping children understand how writers make decisions and refine their work. Children are encouraged to review, edit and evaluate their writing so that they develop independence and pride in their achievements.

By studying a rich range of narratives, non-fiction texts and poetry, children learn how language can be used for different purposes and understand the impact that writing can have on a reader. We want all children to become confident communicators who can express themselves clearly, creatively and effectively.