English at The Links
In reading, leaders prioritise pupils’ fluency and confidence. Older pupils enjoy a rich range of books. They know a wide selection of authors and genres.
Pupils make a positive start to reading. Children in the early years enjoy phonics sessions.
CURRICULUM INTENT
- We aim to help children develop a love for the English language through spoken and written word.
- We strive for children to value the knowledge of English as a lifelong skill.
- We recognise that English is a core subject within the National Curriculum and a pre-requisite for educational and social progress.
- Mastery over language empowers children to communicate creatively and imaginatively, as well as allowing them to engage with the world at large.
- We view the acquisition of language skills to be of the utmost importance and so the teaching of all aspects of English is given a high priority.
- We recognise the importance of language in the social, emotional and intellectual development of children.
- We aim to develop pupils’ abilities within an integrated programme of spoken language, reading and writing striving for accelerated personal progress for all.
- Pupils will be given opportunities to interrelate the requirements of English within a broad and balanced curriculum.
- Opportunities are given to consolidate and practise ‘taught’ English knowledge in cross curricular activities.
- We aim for children to explore a wide range of genres both in the written and verbal form and magpie from these to create meaningful, purposeful work of their own.
- The aim is for past knowledge to be revisited and consolidated to maximise progress for all.
- The aim is for children to know more and remember more.
CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION
As a school we follow the objectives within the National Curriculum Framework aiming for an in-depth understanding with regards to both skills and knowledge.
To develop our pupils spoken languages:
- Give them opportunities to express their ideas to a range of audiences.
- Give them opportunities to take part in group discussion and drama activities.
- Encourage them to listen and respond appropriately to others.
- Help them to understand the need to adapt their speech to different situations.
- Give them opportunities to evaluate and reflect on their own speech.
- Encourage them to use the vocabulary and grammar of Standard English whenever appropriate.
To develop our pupils as readers we:
- Teach them to read accurately and fluently using a range of strategies.
- To provide children with a firm foundation in phonics – through access to a systematic synthetic approach to allow all children to crack the phonics code.
- To provide all children with books that directly reflect their phonics ability mirroring teaching in class.
- Give individual reading targets to children allowing them access to a banded, progressive reading scheme.
- Help them to understand and respond to what they read using inference and deduction where appropriate.
- To expose all children to a wide variety of progressive quality texts.
- To ensure reading is a focus across the wider curriculum.
- Encourage them to read a wide range of genres.
- Encourage them to read independently and with enjoyment.
To develop our pupils as writers we:
- Teach them to write effectively for a range of purposes and reasons, adapting their vocabulary and style as appropriate.
- Teach key vocabulary explicitly ensuring word meaning is understood.
- Encourage them to write with interest, commitment and enjoyment – providing memorable experience days to raise levels of engagement and help children know more and remember.
- Show them how to write in a variety of forms such as stories, poems, reports and letters.
- Show them how to evaluate and edit to improve their own writing.
- Give individual writing targets and personalised feedback after final writing of extended pieces.
- Show them how to use punctuation to make meaning clear to their reader.
- Give them the knowledge and the strategies to become confident and accurate spellers.
- Teach them a fluent, cursive and legible style of handwriting, promoting an understanding of how to present work appropriately in-line with our school handwriting scheme.
- Teachers monitor progression through effective questioning and on-going formative assessment of lesson outcomes
Writing at the Links
Spelling at the Links
Year 1
Year 2 – Year 6
Vision Academy Trust Spelling Bee 2023
On Friday 24th March, 12 children from The Links competed in the Trust Spelling Bee. It was a fantastic competition and our children from Y1 up to Y6 tried really hard and made us really proud with their super spelling skills and exemplary behaviour.
Overall, The Links came fourth in the competition and a special mention goes to Zoe, from Year 4, who gained the highest score out all of the Year 4 competing!
Well done The Links
VALT Poetry Competition
Congratulations to our VALT Trust Poetry competition winners Zoe, Jaxon and Year 2! Their poems were selected from a huge number of fantastic poems written by children across the five primary schools of the Trust. The winners were presented with fabulous books as prizes. Well done to everyone!
Author visit to KS2
We were very lucky to get a visit from Jack Meggitt-Phillips, author of The Beast and the Bethany, The Revenge of the Beast and The Battle of the Beast. He was an absolute inspiration to the children and kept them entertained all afternoon, whilst inspiring them to create a thrilling story around their happy place! The children had an opportunity to have their books signed by him and a set of books were kindly donated to each KS2 class by Drake’s book shop.
Literacy Trail at Preston Park
Year 1
The Year 1 children had a fantastic day at the Literacy Trail at Preston Park. The children were set the challenge of reuniting Stickman with his family. Around the park were a selection of activities for the children to complete in order to find Stickman’s family. The children had a brilliant time and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
Year 2
Year 2 took part in a literacy trail at Preston Park. This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to develop character and life skills and to take part in problem solving activities in an outdoor setting. The children followed a trail and took part in a carousel of activities based on a popular children’s book (Stick Man). The children were encouraged to problem solve and practice their literacy and numeracy skills individually and in groups.
VALT Spelling Bee Competition March 2022
Every year some of our most able spellers from KS1 and KS2 are selected by their teachers to compete in our VISION Trust Spelling Bee Competition. The children enjoy this event very much and it is attended by all five of our primary schools. Children participate in general rounds and then tie breakers when needed. There is a winner in each year group and an overall school winner based on the most correct answers. We also invite guest judges from our Trust Governing Board. The atmosphere is electric and concentration levels are very high!
The children representing The Links Primary School were an absolute credit to the school with outstanding attitudes and behaviour. Well done!
Writer of the Week
Every week each class chooses a writer of the week. Their work is framed in the classroom and on the hall display and is shared with parents and carers.
Writing across all ages at The Links
Nursery
Reception
Year 1
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
