At St Agnes, we aim to offer a lifelong passion for reading, writing, speaking and listening where English is at the helm of our topic-based curriculum. By offering a broad and balanced topic-based curriculum, Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing are integrated in a creative and inspiring programme, which enables all our children to be submerged in a language rich environment. Our children are encouraged to read a variety of genres; they have access to a range of reading materials in their language rich classrooms where we have created a reading rich environment. Due to the high quality resources on offer and the motivational learning environments, our children will become capable writers by being given exciting, inspiring and original materials linked through a topic-based curriculum that supports their learning but also challenges them. This encouragement will enable them to become confident, capable and enthusiastic writers. They will reflect on their own and others writing through their growing green comments and fix-it time and have an understanding that writing has real purpose through programmes such as IPEELL. They will take responsibility for their own learning including self-monitoring and correcting. We intend that our pupils will be both independent and reflective readers who can read fluently and for meaning. The children will use a variety of reading skills to enable them to access all other areas of learning. Children will leave St Agnes reading, writing, speaking and listening with confidence, fluency and understanding using a range of strategies to take responsibility for their own learning. Through a variety of topics, vocabulary will be stretched and the importance of suitable and technical vocabulary encouraged.

The impact on our children is clear: progress, sustained learning and transferrable skills. With the implementation of the writing journey being well established and taught thoroughly throughout school, children are becoming more confident writers and by the time they are in upper Key Stage 2, most genres of writing are familiar to them and the teaching can focus on creativity, writer’s craft, sustained writing and manipulation of grammar and punctuation skills. As all aspects of English are an integral part of the curriculum, cross-curricular writing standards have also improved and skills taught in the English lesson are transferred into other subjects; this shows consolidation of skills and a deeper understanding of how and when to use specific grammar, punctuation and grammar objectives. We know that we have equipped children to move on from us to further their education and know that their creativity, passion for English and high aspirations travel with them and continue to grow and develop as they do.

Please click on the picture link to learn more about how Phonics it taught at St Agnes School.

Please see below our selection of recommended reading books by year group.