English

At Chapelhill Primary, we believe that learning to read, write and communicate confidently opens the door to all future learning. Our English curriculum supports pupils to become fluent readers, thoughtful writers and confident speakers through a carefully planned approach to phonics, reading and writing. Children develop early decoding skills alongside a love of reading, while writing lessons help them express ideas clearly and creatively for different purposes. By building strong foundations, rich vocabulary and confidence in communication, we aim for every child to leave Chapelhill Primary ready to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond.

Phonics and Early Reading

At Chapelhill Primary, we are committed to giving every child the best start in reading. We believe that reading is the key to all academic success; our intention is to ensure that by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently and with confidence. We want our children to first "learn to read" and then "read to learn." By providing the right support, we ensure every child can "crack the code" of reading, developing a lifelong love of books and the ability to access a wide and enriching curriculum.

To achieve this, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme - a systematic, evidence-based approach to teaching early reading and writing. This programme is fully aligned with the National Curriculum and is designed to ensure that all children, including those with SEND, develop strong phonics knowledge and decoding skills. To maintain absolute consistency, Chapelhill Primary uses only school-approved Little Wandle resources and formats.

Our Approach Includes:

Whole-Class Teaching: From the first full week of Reception, children engage in daily, high-quality phonics lessons. We teach the whole class together to maintain high expectations for all, ensuring no child is left behind.
Practice and Fluency: In EYFS and KS1, phonics lessons are supplemented by carefully selected decodable texts that allow children to practice their skills in context.
Keep Up, Not Catch Up: We use a "Keep Up" model where formative assessment happens during every lesson. Pupils making slower progress are identified rapidly, with 1:1 or small group "rapid Catch up’’ interventions.
Rigorous Assessment: Summative assessment takes place half-termly to track progress in sound recognition, blending, and spelling.

Through our rigorous application of Little Wandle, we aim for our pupils to leave Chapelhill Primary as fluent, enthusiastic, and independent readers who possess the tools to explore the world through text and thrive in their future learning.

Reading at Key Stage 2

Reading is a core priority across Key Stage 2. The curriculum ensures pupils develop fluency, comprehension, and reading stamina to access the full curriculum. All pupils are PM Benchmarked regularly to identify attainment and inform provision. Pupils are provided with a school reading book from banded texts which are reviewed weekly by the class teacher.

Whole-class reading is taught three times per week using Comprehension Ninja and the Active Reading approach. Teachers read aloud to the class daily using a high-quality class text.

Pupils not meeting Age-Related Expectations receive targeted support, including daily individual reading and PiXL comprehension interventions.

This approach ensures pupils in Key Stage 2 become confident, fluent readers who are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Our Approach to Writing

At Chapelhill Primary, we aim to develop confident, capable writers who can communicate effectively and creatively. Our writing curriculum is built upon a foundation of high-quality literature, ensuring a structured and evidence-based approach that supports writing development from the Early Years through to Key Stage 2.

Key elements of our approach include:

High-Quality Books as Stimulus: At the heart of our curriculum is a love for literature. We use carefully selected, high-quality texts as the "hook" and stimulus for writing. These books expose children to rich vocabulary, diverse narratives, and sophisticated grammatical structures, inspiring them to find their own unique voice.

Strong Foundations (EYFS & KS1): In the early years, we focus on the essential building blocks of literacy. We prioritise mark-making, fine motor development, and letter formation. By establishing these "strong foundations" early on, we ensure children possess the physical stamina and cognitive readiness to progress into more formal composition.

The Pathways to Write Framework: We use the Pathways to Write methodology to provide a clear, scaffolded journey for our developing writers and authors. This approach offers structured progression through a variety of genres, providing children with clear exemplars and guided practice to produce coherent, high-quality work.

Fluent Transcription & Handwriting: We believe that fluent handwriting is key to reducing cognitive load, allowing children to focus on their creative ideas. We explicitly teach handwriting using the Schofield & Sims scheme, which provides a consistent, progressive approach to developing a neat, joined, and effortless cursive style.

The Writing Process: Pupils are taught that writing is a craft. They are guided through the cycles of planning, drafting, revising, and editing. This process encourages children to take pride in their work, refining their grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary to suit their audience and purpose.

Inclusive Support for All Learners: Lessons are adapted and supplemented with targeted interventions for pupils with SEND, ensuring all children can progress and achieve their potential.

Our Curriculum

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