English at Chilton
Reading
We value reading as a key life skill and ensure reading is a fundamental part of what we do. We are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers by having a holistic approach from when the children start with us in Reception. All children at Chilton Primary School are exposed to high quality texts across the curriculum and reading skills are taught explicitly in all year groups. As a school, reading has a very high profile. Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One. This way, children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through the school. From starting where children are taught how to segment and blend words, to having book talks where children can discuss their preference, likes and dislikes, their preference to a genre or author, to be able to dive into exciting, well stocked and organised book corners and book areas around the school, to getting children ready to be lifelong readers; we pride ourselves on giving our children the ultimate opportunities to read for pleasure. We give all children the opportunity to enter the magical worlds that books open up to them. The high profile of reading in school is further enhanced by our Year 5 and 6 Reading Buddies who support the younger children to read every day, holiday reading challenges to promote a variety of reading experiences at home and our classic book challenges that takes place within classes throughout the year.
Phonics and Spelling
To ensure the delivery of high quality, systematic phonic work for all children, we use the Read Write Inc. programme developed by Ruth Miskin (see bottom of page for more information). In Reception and Year 1, this facilitates a robust and rigorous approach to learning phonics and development as early readers, spellers and writers. This strategy delivers consistent practice, progression and continuity in the teaching and learning of phonics and spelling right up to year 6. Our drive is to impart strategies that teach our children to spell, read and write confidently.
Our spelling program begins in year 2, where children build on their prior phonic knowledge from year 1. Groups are differentiated, and reviewed by senior leaders regularly, to ensure all children make progress. SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) is taught for 30 minutes every day - three sessions of the Spelling program and two punctuation and grammar sessions, which are designed by class teachers to meet the needs of the children. We conduct an exciting Spelling Bee competition every second half term to raise the profile of spelling.
We are confident that the vast majority of our children finish their studies with us as confident spellers, readers and writers. Students are able to transfer their SPaG knowledge directly into their writing.
Writing
Literacy is the fundamental skill that enriches our daily lives in a wide variety of ways. At Chilton, we intend to provide opportunities to engage with high quality, age appropriate, texts to discover language as part of either whole class teaching or independent reading. We have a passion for language and through challenge, choice and creativity, we aspire to transfer this to our children.
Writing opportunities are carefully planned around class novels where both non-fiction and fiction is balanced across the academic year. Children’s literacy skills and speaking and listening opportunities are strengthened with planned cross-curricular links.
Children participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates. These areas of learning develop our children into confident speakers and listeners as well as confident writers. Early writers will call on their own experiences and, as children progress through the school, they develop further by exploring a range of text types. These include extended stories, poetry, diary entries, reports, discussion and many more. As part of the writing process, children are taught to reflect on, edit and improve their writing and its presentation.
Children progress through Chilton becoming increasingly proficient at using a range of literary techniques, which they are able to apply skilfully. Children understand and apply their knowledge of a range of text types, which engage and inform the reader. Our authors are able to independently reflect on their, and others’, writing, and suggest improvements.
We are a “Get Reading. Keep Reading. Change Everything.” school. We use the highly successful Read Write Inc. Phonics programme to teach our children to read, write and spell. Our children do well in the phonics screening check and by Year 2, the majority are fluent readers with the best chance of success in the KS1 tests. Ruth Miskin Training recognise us for teaching the programme with fidelity and passion – we know what it takes to make reading and writing pleasurable and rewarding for our children.
This badge recognises that we:
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Raise standards in reading and writing for our children
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Are all expertly trained by Ruth Miskin Training – including our Head of School, Kate Law
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Gain the latest programme updates through regular visits from our Ruth Miskin Consultant Trainer
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Support our most vulnerable readers with extra one-to-one teaching every day.