English

Our Vision

At Heyes Lane Primary School, we believe that language is the key to unlocking the curriculum and opening doors to future success. Reading, writing, speaking and listening are at the heart of everything we do. Through a rich, ambitious and carefully sequenced English curriculum, we equip children with the knowledge, vocabulary and communication skills they need to thrive academically, socially and personally.
Our vision is for every child to leave Heyes Lane as a fluent reader, confident writer and articulate communicator who can engage critically with the world around them. We want our children to develop a genuine love of reading, an appreciation of language and the ability to communicate successfully for a range of audiences and purposes.
Reading sits at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that reading is the foundation of all learning and one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Through books, children develop knowledge, empathy, imagination and an understanding of the wider world. Alongside this, we nurture children as writers who can express themselves with confidence, creativity and precision.

Foundational Skills: Building Strong Foundations for Success

At Heyes Lane Primary School, we recognise that successful readers and writers are built upon secure foundations. Our English curriculum prioritises the development of the core knowledge and skills children need to become fluent, confident and independent communicators. These foundational skills include:
• Communication and language
• Phonological awareness and phonics
• Accurate decoding
• Reading fluency
• Vocabulary development
• Handwriting
• Spelling
• Sentence construction
• Grammar and punctuation
• Oral language and discussion

We understand that children cannot fully focus on understanding texts or crafting high-quality writing if they are still working hard to decode words, spell common vocabulary or construct basic sentences. Therefore, these foundational skills are taught explicitly, systematically and progressively from Nursery to Year 6.

Through regular practice, retrieval and application, children develop automaticity in these essential skills. As these skills become increasingly secure, pupils can focus their cognitive energy on deeper comprehension, critical thinking, creativity and effective communication.

Our approach is rooted in the principle of “keep up, not catch up." Teachers use ongoing formative assessment to identify misconceptions quickly and provide timely support through adaptive teaching, targeted intervention and same-day keep-up sessions. This ensures that small gaps do not become significant barriers to future learning.

Our Curriculum Intent

Using the National Curriculum, the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and evidence-informed practice as the foundation of our curriculum, we have developed an ambitious English curriculum that reflects the values, aspirations and needs of our pupils.
We intend for every child to:
• Become a fluent, enthusiastic and independent reader
• Develop a lifelong love of reading and writing
• Write effectively for a range of audiences, purposes and contexts
• Acquire a rich and ambitious vocabulary
• Become confident speakers and active listeners
• Read critically and think deeply about what they read
• Apply literacy skills across the wider curriculum
• Develop resilience, independence and curiosity
• Access the full curriculum through strong literacy skills
• Leave Heyes Lane fully prepared for secondary education and future success

Reading at Heyes Lane

Reading is the foundation of learning and sits at the heart of our curriculum.
We view reading as a complex process that develops through carefully sequenced teaching from Nursery through to Year 6. Our approach is underpinned by five interconnected strands:
• Word Reading
• Reading Fluency
• Vocabulary Development
• Reading Comprehension
• Reading for Pleasure
Our carefully planned reading journey develops children from their earliest experiences of spoken language to becoming fluent, enthusiastic and reflective readers:
Communication and Language → Systematic Synthetic Phonics → Accurate Decoding → Automatic Word Recognition → Reading Fluency → Vocabulary Development → Reading Comprehension → Reading Across the Curriculum → Reading for Pleasure → Confident, Independent and Lifelong Readers

Early Reading and Phonics

Reading begins long before children can decode words independently. In Nursery and Reception, children are immersed in a language-rich environment where stories, nursery rhymes, songs, conversations and imaginative play develop the communication and language skills that underpin later reading success.
In Reception and Key Stage 1, children learn to read through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, a systematic and evidence-informed phonics programme that develops secure decoding and automatic word recognition. Daily phonics lessons ensure that children build strong foundations and experience success from the very beginning of their reading journey. Children participate in carefully structured reading practice sessions using fully decodable books matched precisely to their phonic knowledge. These sessions focus on decoding, fluency and comprehension. Children who require additional support receive Little Wandle Keep-Up or Rapid Catch-Up interventions to ensure gaps are identified quickly and addressed effectively.

Reading Fluency

At Heyes Lane, reading fluency is regarded as a foundational skill.
We explicitly teach accuracy, automaticity and prosody through repeated reading, partner reading, echo reading, choral reading and teacher modelling. Fluent readers can devote their attention to understanding, evaluating and responding to texts rather than decoding individual words. As fluency develops, cognitive load is reduced, enabling stronger comprehension and greater enjoyment of reading.

Vocabulary Development

Vocabulary development is a central priority across the school because we know that vocabulary knowledge is one of the strongest indicators of future academic success.
Children encounter ambitious vocabulary through class novels, reading lessons, writing lessons and the wider curriculum. Teachers explicitly teach vocabulary and support children in exploring word meanings, word relationships and how language can be used effectively in different contexts. Through discussion and repeated exposure, pupils develop a deeper and more secure understanding of language.

Reading Comprehension

Reading lessons teach children how successful readers think.
Teachers explicitly model expert reading behaviours and support pupils in developing increasingly sophisticated comprehension skills. Children learn to:
• Explain vocabulary in context
• Retrieve information accurately
• Summarise key ideas
• Predict using evidence
• Make increasingly sophisticated inferences
• Evaluate an author's choices
• Compare themes, viewpoints and ideas
• Justify responses using evidence from the text
Lessons follow a gradual release model, moving from teacher modelling (I Do) to guided practice (We Do) before children apply their learning independently (You Do).

Active Reading

Throughout Key Stage 2, pupils are taught to become active readers who engage thoughtfully with texts.
Children learn to:
• Annotate key information
• Identify unfamiliar vocabulary
• Ask questions
• Make predictions
• Summarise sections of text
• Make connections between texts
• Monitor and evaluate their understanding
These strategies support metacognition and help pupils become increasingly independent readers.

Reading Across the Curriculum

Reading is integral to every subject taught at Heyes Lane.
Children regularly access historical sources, scientific explanations, geographical reports, biographies, religious texts and a range of non-fiction materials. Reading therefore becomes the gateway through which pupils acquire knowledge, develop vocabulary and deepen their understanding across the curriculum.

Reading for Pleasure

Developing lifelong readers is one of our most important ambitions.
We promote a culture where reading is celebrated and enjoyed every day through:
• Daily class story time
• High-quality class novels
• Attractive reading environments
• Author studies
• Poetry appreciation
• Reading events and celebrations
• Opportunities for independent reading
• Book recommendations and discussion
Teachers act as reading role models, introducing children to a diverse range of authors, genres and perspectives while sharing their own enthusiasm for books and reading

Home Reading

We value the partnership between home and school in developing successful readers.
Children are encouraged to read regularly at home, and families are provided with guidance and support to help establish positive reading habits. Home reading builds confidence, fluency, comprehension and enjoyment whilst helping children develop lifelong reading behaviours.

Writing at Heyes Lane

We believe every child is a writer.
Our writing curriculum provides meaningful opportunities for children to communicate ideas, share knowledge and express themselves creatively. High-quality texts, memorable experiences, visitors, drama, role play and curriculum themes provide authentic purposes for writing and inspire children to produce their very best work.
Children write to:
• Entertain
• Inform
• Persuade
• Discuss
• Explain
• Reflect
• Debate
• Present information to real audiences.

Reading Into Writing

Reading and writing are intrinsically linked.
Children explore high-quality texts both as readers and as writers, studying vocabulary, language choices, grammatical structures and authorial craft. Teachers explicitly draw attention to how authors organise ideas, create effects and engage readers so that children can apply these techniques independently within their own writing.

The Writing Process

Writing lessons follow a carefully sequenced journey that supports children in becoming increasingly independent writers.
Children:
1. Immerse themselves in high-quality texts
2. Explore texts as readers and writers
3. Orally rehearse sentences and ideas
4. Gather ambitious vocabulary
5. Plan and draft their writing
6. Edit and improve their work
7. Publish and share final outcomes with an audience
Drama, discussion and oral rehearsal are embedded within lessons because we recognise that spoken language is the bridge between thought and writing. If a child can articulate an idea confidently, they are far more likely to communicate it effectively in writing.

Foundational Writing Skills

We regard transcription skills, including handwriting, spelling and sentence construction, as foundational to successful writing.
These skills are taught explicitly and practised regularly so that children can write with increasing accuracy and independence. As these foundations become automatic, pupils are able to focus on vocabulary choices, authorial craft, structure and the impact of their writing on the reader.

Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling and Handwriting

Grammar and Punctuation
Grammar is taught explicitly through daily Grammar Time sessions. Children learn how language works and how grammatical choices influence meaning. Learning is then applied within purposeful and engaging writing contexts.

Spelling
Spelling is taught systematically across the school.
• EYFS and Year 1 follow Little Wandle
• Year 2 pupils access Little Wandle Spelling or Rapid Catch-Up where appropriate
• Key Stage 2 pupils use Spelling Shed to develop spelling knowledge, patterns and strategies
Children are encouraged to become increasingly autonomous in identifying and correcting spelling errors.

Handwriting
Handwriting is taught progressively from EYFS to Year 6.
Children develop correct letter formation, secure pencil grip, presentation skills and fluent joined handwriting. High expectations for handwriting are maintained across all curriculum subjects because we believe presentation reflects pride, effort and care in learning.

Speaking and Listening

Oracy underpins success in reading and writing.
Children regularly participate in discussions, presentations, debates, drama activities and collaborative learning opportunities. Structured talk, oral rehearsal and purposeful discussion help children develop confidence, vocabulary and the ability to communicate ideas effectively.

Inclusion and Support

At Heyes Lane, every child can succeed in English.
Teachers use ongoing assessment to identify misconceptions and barriers to learning quickly. Adaptive teaching and targeted interventions ensure all pupils can access the curriculum while maintaining ambitious expectations.
Support may include:
• Little Wandle Keep-Up
• Little Wandle Rapid Catch-Up
• Precision Teaching
• Toe by Toe
• Additional fluency practice
• Pre-teaching vocabulary
• Writing scaffolds
• Speech-to-text technology
• Targeted same-day interventions
• Additional adult support.
Our aim is always to help children keep up through timely support rather than relying on extensive catch-up later.

Assessment

Assessment is integral to teaching and learning.
Teachers use a range of formative and summative assessment strategies including:
• Daily classroom assessment
• Reading discussions and questioning
• Reading lesson outcomes
• Little Wandle assessments
• Reading practice sessions
• Independent writing
• Verbal conferencing
• Writing moderation
• Teacher professional judgement
Assessment information is used to inform planning, identify next steps and ensure every child continues to make strong progress.

The Impact of English at Heyes Lane

By the time children leave Heyes Lane Primary School, they are:
• Fluent, enthusiastic and reflective readers
• Confident writers who write effectively for a wide range of purposes
• Skilled communicators who can articulate and justify their ideas
• Independent learners who apply literacy skills across the curriculum
• Readers who enjoy books and choose to read regularly
• Children with a rich vocabulary and strong language knowledge
• Critical thinkers who engage thoughtfully with texts and the world around them
• Well prepared for the academic demands of secondary education and beyond
Most importantly, our pupils leave Heyes Lane with a lifelong appreciation of reading, the confidence to express themselves through writing and speaking, and the understanding that language has the power to open doors, create opportunities and shape their future.

Our English curriculum ensures that every child can read, write, speak and succeed.