Overview

English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. At Rathfern, we recognise that a high-quality English education enables pupils to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Speaking, listening, reading and writing are essential tools for learning, communication and participation in society. Through English, pupils learn to express themselves confidently and creatively, develop curiosity about the world and gain the knowledge and skills needed to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.

Reading sits at the heart of our curriculum because it unlocks learning across all subjects and opens a gateway to rich knowledge and powerful stories. Literature plays a central role, exposing children to diverse voices, cultures, histories and perspectives.

Intent

At Rathfern, our English curriculum:

• develops a sense of belonging and empowerment for all pupils

• affirms identity and promotes equity, social justice and environmental justice

• is driven by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

• equips pupils with powerful vocabulary, knowledge and language skills

• fosters a love of reading and an appreciation of our rich literary heritage

• supports children to speak, listen, read and write fluently and confidently

We aim for all pupils to:

• read widely and often, for pleasure and information

• develop a secure understanding of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic conventions

• write clearly, accurately and purposefully in a range of genres and contexts

• participate in meaningful discussion, debate and drama

• become confident communicators who can present, perform and express their ideas clearly

We are committed to closing the vocabulary gap, recognising that early language exposure significantly influences long-term achievement. Therefore, vocabulary is developed through explicit teaching, incidental learning and ongoing development of “word consciousness.”

Implementation

Reading

Rathfern’s reading approach provides opportunities for children to encounter varied, high-quality texts through:

• 1:1 reading

• Guided reading sessions

• Reading for pleasure

• Whole-class story time

• Reading across the curriculum

Guided Reading

• EYFS & KS1: carefully chosen texts for challenge and progression; skilled TAs provide tailored support

• KS2: taught through high-quality core texts; sessions differentiated and aligned to all National Curriculum skills (retrieval, inference, summarising, prediction, vocabulary, author’s intent, viewpoint and comparison)

Home Reading

• Consistent system Nursery–Y6 with reading records

• Books matched to ability in EYFS & KS1; growing independence in KS2

• Targeted readers read daily

Additional Reading Opportunities

• Daily story time

• Library access with diverse, high-quality literature

• Author visits

• Reading cafés (family reading events)

• Peer & buddy reading across phases

Writing

Our writing curriculum emphasises writing for purpose and self-expression. Children learn through:

• rich core texts linked to meaningful themes and SDGs

• explicit grammar, punctuation and vocabulary instruction

• immersive experiences and drama to deepen understanding

• consistent modelling and co-construction of success criteria

• opportunities for editing, revising and publishing

EYFS & KS1:

• strong focus on language development and sentence structure

• phonics taught using Little Wandle

• gradual introduction of punctuation and grammar to build independence

KS2:

• study of high-quality texts to develop authorial voice

• explicit vocabulary instruction using contextual discussion

• structured writing cycle leading to polished outcomes

Spelling

• EYFS & KS1: Little Wandle Letters & Sounds Revised (including tricky words)

• KS2: Herts for Learning ESSENTIALspelling (metacognitive approach)

• Weekly explicit spelling lesson + practice games

Handwriting

• EYFS: mark-making and letter formation

• Year 1: secure print formation

• From Year 2: transition to cursive script to develop fluency and speed

Impact

As a result of our curriculum, pupils at Rathfern:

• speak confidently and articulately

• read fluently, widely and with strong comprehension

• write creatively, accurately and for real purposes

• develop broad vocabulary and deep language understanding

• think critically and express opinions respectfully

• demonstrate empathy, curiosity and cultural awareness

• leave primary school with strong literacy foundations for secondary education and future life

Assessment, teacher feedback, reading records, writing outcomes and ongoing vocabulary development inform progress and ensure no child is left behind.

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