English                Subject Leader - Miss K Foyle

English Intent, Implementation and Impact

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. - Frederick Douglass

How Reading is taught  

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

– Phillip Pullman

We follow the Phonics Shed scheme across all of EYFS and Key Stage 1. Children can access Phonics Shed on their EdShed log in to play games that will consolidate their Phonics learning in school. Children take home decodable Phonics Shed books matched to their current Phonics knowledge (alongside their book banded books and library book).

Phonics Shed is underpinned by a narrative-drive phonics approach. Many people have fond memories of having stories read to them by adults at school and in the home. 

" The main aim of storytelling is to breathe life into the words, capturing children’s attention rather than simply entertaining them."          Department for Education, 2021

 

Phonics Long Term PlanPhonics Shed Overview 

Key Stage 1 VIPERS                                 Key Stage 2 VIPERS

 We use the VIPERS strategies to teach and apply children's comprehension skills. This means ensuring the children learn to ask and answer a range of questions about texts, covering the entire National Curriculum. The question stems linked below can be used when reading with your child at home.

Help Your Child at Home

 Oxford Owl  BBC Bitesize KS1 BBC Bitesize KS2EdShed (for Phonics and Spelling)  Scholastic  Phonics PlayTeach Your Monster to Read

Our Reading Ambassadors

Representatives from Year 2 and Year 6 now have the important role of Reading Ambassador for our school. These children love to read and have important jobs such as looking after our library, the Reading Suitcases and recommending books across their Key Stages. Keep an eye on this space to see what they get up to.

Reading Suitcases

The Reading Ambassadors are excited to introduce the Reading Suitcases to the playground during lunchtimes. They chose some of their favourite books from the library that the children have loved sharing outside! 

 Our Library 

Every week each class has a slot to visit the library. During this time the children choose a new book to read at home and in school, share with their friends and family and learn to care for and respect books. This is a treasured time for every child from Nursery to Year 6.

World Book Day

Have a look at our Masked Reader World Book Day event. Can you guess which member of staff is reading each book? Go to our YouTube channel to find out if you were right!

//www.youtube.com/embed/mSk-r-8da_A#t=0.5

There is No Dragon in this Story - as told by the Alsager Bank staff 

//www.youtube.com/embed/wGdhMGCWjxU#t=0.5

I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.

– Anne Frank

Willow Class Writing LTPOak Class Writing LTP

Maple Class Writing LTP

Ash Class Writing LTP Sycamore Class Writing LTP

How Writing is Taught 

Writing Cycle EYFS Writing Cycle 

We are now using Spelling Shed from Reception up to Year 6. The link below gives more information on how to use this. Our children love ‘Spelling Shed’ as it brings the fun factor to spellings. All children have an online username and password which can be provided from their class teacher, should they lose it!

Each week, spellings are set online by the class teacher for children to access either in school or at home. Children can earn ‘honey pots’ and rewards, pushing them up the leader board and encouraging friendly competition between them and their peers. We recommend starting with 'Easy' mode and gradually progressing up to 'Extreme'.

Spelling Shed Guidance 

We also recommend practicing Spellings by writing them too. Some activity ideas are below of more fun ways to do this. Your child's teacher will check regularly to see how your child is getting on with the Spellings they are practicing at home and there are regular opportunities throughout the week to practice these at school.

Spelling Activities

Help Your Child at Home

Oxford Owl BBC Bitesize KS1 BBC Bitesize KS2EdShed (for Phonics and Spelling) Nessy Spelling