At Sir John Heron Primary School we believe that a quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion. One of our priorities is helping children read and develop their all-important comprehension skills. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their writing, can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. We want to inspire children to be confident in the art of speaking and listening and who can use discussion to communicate and further their learning. We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through primary school. We believe that a secure basis in English skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society. 

We have a rigorous and well organised English curriculum and framework that provides many purposeful opportunities for reading, writing and discussion. We use a wide variety of quality texts and resources to motivate and inspire our children. In EYFS and KS1, children begin by following the RWI scheme which gives them the solid foundations for reading and writing that will be built upon as they progress through the school. From Year 1 to Year 6, a wide range of quality texts are used in English lessons, with specific writing objectives and outcomes linked to each one. A detailed learning journey is planned for each text, so that children develop their knowledge and skills in a structured and purposeful way. Outcomes are assessed against National Curriculum requirements, and are shared with the children, so they are aware of their strengths, and areas in which they can develop and improve. All children take home books from the class book corner to enjoy. In addition, children in EYFS and KS1 take home books from the RWI scheme. In KS2, Accelerated Reader is used for reading books. This allows the children to read books which they will understand and enjoy, while being at a sufficiently challenging level to help them develop their reading skills. Regular RWI assessments are carried out, as well as STAR Reading tests (linked to Accelerated Reader).

We aim for our children to become confident readers and writers who have acquired the knowledge, skills and vocabulary necessary to progress to the next stage of their learning. We aim for our children to be able to read a variety of texts independently, understand what they have read, and be able to make connections with other texts they have come across. Similarly, we aim for our children to be able to write effectively across a broad range of text types, using their knowledge of what particular genres require, and drawing on their experience of reading similar texts. By the time they leave Sir John Heron, we hope that children will enjoy reading and writing and develop a positive attitude and resilience in their learning as they continue their education in secondary school and beyond.