English

The core skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening are developed from Reception to Year 6. Progression is a vital part of the learning process and teaching staff employ a wide range of strategies to accommodate each Year Group’s particular emphases and challenges.

Throughout the school, children develop their reading, speaking and listening skills in tandem with emergent and gradually more sophisticated writing skills.

Reading is a key skill to facilitate understanding of all areas of the curriculum, and is emphasised from Reception. By the spring term, Reception children are taking simple books home to read with their parents. We strongly emphasise reading for meaning, and encourage in-depth discussion of the text and pictures. Older children discuss themes, characterisation etc. during their nightly reading sessions.

By Year 6 we aim for each child to have a thoughtful response to all reading matter. They will be able to articulate their feelings towards a text and write using a range of styles and voices. Children will value both the written and spoken word and understand, through both fiction and non-fiction work, an excellent command of English is vital to their everyday communication with others.

back to Life at Norland