English

Reading and Writing

We use Read Write Inc. Phonics which is a complete literacy programme for 3 to 6 year olds that are learning to read and write.  The programme uses synthetic phonics to teach reading and it covers all of the National Curriculum requirements for literacy and language. 

This approach:

• Gets children decoding and comprehending quickly.  The special 'three reads' approach ensures that all children gain accuracy, fluency and a good understanding of the text.
• Ensures children read storybooks and non-fiction books matched to their growing phonic knowledge.
• Leaves no child behind.   Initial and on-going assessment to track every child's progress.
• Prevents downtime.  Direct teaching followed by partner practice means that every child participates in the whole lesson.

We begin using Read Write Inc. when our pupils are in nursery and they start by learning the first 30 sounds in short, daily sessions.  When pupils move into reception year, they begin to read storybooks and non-fiction books that are closely matched to their developing phonic knowledge.  The sessions are lively and interactive and our pupils make rapid progress.  They begin to write confidently and learn to spell using sounds that they know.  Their progress is assessed at the end of every half term and they are grouped according to the level they are working at.  This ensures that teaching is always focused precisely on what pupils need and the pace of learning is fast.  If we are ever concerned about a child's progress in reading, we provide 1:1 intervention for 15 minutes a day to address this and accelerate their progress.  These sessions are delivered by highly skilled support staff who have received specific Read Write Inc. 1:1 intervention training.

Once our children have completed the RWI Phonics programme, our English lessons are taught using the CUSP Reading and Writing curriculum. CUSP Reading and Writing is an evidence informed, carefully sequenced English curriculum, which maps core content in reading and writing across the primary journey, ensuring that learning is taught and revisited over time so that pupils commit their understanding to the long-term memory.

Reading

At Orgill, our goal is for our pupils to learn to communicate and engage with the world around them confidently and effectively. The CUSP Reading curriculum is built on three key foundations: explicit vocabulary instruction; fluency instruction and opportunities to think hard.  Each reading unit follows a clear and progressive sequence that immerses our pupils in rich and demanding texts. Our whole school reading spine also complements learning in our wider curriculum.

Our aim is to immerse children in rich literature to help develop and widen their vocabulary and inference skills. Our wider curriculum also has explicit vocabulary instruction woven throughout it, which is helping to shape the structure and language provision throughout our curriculum. Ultimately, we want to raise confidence, enthusiasm and standards in reading across the curriculum so that all children are able to be successful and flourish. 

Writing

At Orgill, we believe that writing is a way for children to express themselves, communicate ideas and also make sense of the world around them.  It is our goal to inspire confident, creative and capable writers who take pride in their work and who are able to write with purpose, imagination and accuracy.

We strive to provide all pupils with rich and meaningful opportunities to write across the curriculum, encouraging them to develop their own voices as authors, poets and communicators. Through engaging teaching, high-quality texts and supportive feedback, we help every child build the skills, stamina and enthusiasm needed to become lifelong writers.

Spelling

Discrete spelling sessions are taught from the end of Y1 to Y6 using the CUSP Spelling curriculum which is organised into 2-week blocks, with each block covering a particular set of key concepts.  These include: spelling patterns, etymology and morphology and reasoning about spelling.  These blocks are made up of three lessons per week: 2 x 15minute (minimum) discrete Spelling lessons and 1 x Spelling starter for the final Writing lesson of the week,

Handwriting

Handwriting is taught explicitly in separate sessions every day from R to Y6.