English
English includes reading and writing as well as speaking and listening skills.
Reading
It is our wish to celebrate reading in such a way that we can instil a love and respect for books so that reading has every chance of becoming a treasured skill. In essence our task is to equip children with the skill to read and also with the desire to read. We shall teach them to read accurately, with comprehension and to make efficient use of reference books and libraries.
Parents’ and teachers’ attitudes towards books are without doubt a key factor and we aim to work in partnership with parents to help to promote positive attitudes towards reading.
Writing
Our purpose is to teach children to write fluently, grammatically and with confidence, to encourage an ever-growing vocabulary and care in their spelling. It is also important to equip children with the capacity to choose the appropriate style or genre for each occasion and audience.
Through careful teaching, encouragement and exposure to a variety of writing forms we aim to install a respect for the power in the written word.
Spelling and Vocabulary
Spelling and vocabulary is taught weekly in school as part of the English curriculum. Value is given to the way words are built up and children are encouraged to understand spelling through exploration and direct teaching as opposed to being given lists of words to learn from memory. Emphasis is on word families, root words, suffix and prefix and on words that are appropriate to the written task. However, some children will still need to learn high frequency words, e.g. what, when, etc., and parents may be asked to help children to learn these. Homework will be in the form of spelling and vocabulary activities. Parents are encouraged to work alongside their children giving them support as appropriate.
Handwriting
Early in the junior school, the children will be working in pencil, developing their style in joined writing. The style we teach the children is called “A First Hand” and fits in well with any infant handwriting scheme, including any scheme that teaches joined handwriting. When the teacher feels that the moment for transfer to pen has arrived, your child will bring home a special letter suggesting this. We like children to use a medium italic nib. An italic pen can be bought cheaply direct from school. The First Hand style is quite appropriate to italic hand or an ordinary hand. It is the nib that determines the italics.
From early days we wish to develop for the children a “good hand” and foster an attitude of pride in the presentation of the written word. However, confident writing at speed is introduced in the Upper school and children are encouraged to develop a ‘fast-draft’ and ‘best’ style of writing suited to purpose.
Speaking and Listening (Drama)
Since speech is the greatest means of communication, it is important that it is given appropriate attention. Opportunity will be created for children to discuss, describe, tell stories and give account in small and large groups so they may develop the skill to do this competently, coherently and with confidence. Clearly this too requires of them the capacity to listen attentively. Teachers read to their children regularly and introduce them to a wide range of stories and poetry. Drama is regularly used as a means to develop confident communication skills.