English Curriculum Intent Statement
At Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School, English is a vital subject that embodies our mission of “Searching faithfully for excellence” by nurturing confident, articulate, and creative communicators. Rooted in our Gospel values of love, respect, stewardship, honesty, hope, justice, and forgiveness, our English curriculum inspires pupils to express themselves clearly and thoughtfully, fostering a lifelong passion for reading, writing, and spoken language. In the context of our caring, inclusive community and growing diversity of needs—including our SEND provision and focus on social, emotional, and communication development—English is the cornerstone for unlocking all learning and enabling pupils to thrive academically and personally.
Key Aims
Our English curriculum aims to:
- Develop pupils’ ability to write fluently and confidently across a broad range of fiction and non-fiction genres, enabling them to communicate their ideas, feelings, and knowledge effectively.
- Build a rich and precise vocabulary that pupils can use accurately and creatively in their writing and speech.
- Foster strong spoken language skills, recognising that talk underpins reading and writing development, through purposeful conversation, discussion, and oracy activities.
- Ensure pupils master the essential technical skills of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and handwriting to support clear and polished written communication.
- Provide meaningful cross-curricular writing opportunities to deepen understanding and reinforce literacy skills in diverse contexts.
- Support all pupils, including those with SEND, by carefully scaffolding learning and providing targeted interventions to close gaps and build confidence.
Content and Skills
Pupils will engage with a carefully sequenced curriculum using the Jane Considine ‘The Write Stuff’ approach, which integrates rich vocabulary development, grammar instruction, and writing techniques through immersive experience days and sentence stacking lessons. They will:
- Explore and apply the ‘Writing Rainbow’ lenses of Fantastics (ideas), Grammaristics (grammar tools), and Boomtastics (writing techniques) to craft engaging and varied texts.
- Develop phonics knowledge and spelling skills through systematic, enjoyable approaches such as Teach Handwriting and Spelling Ninja, ensuring strong transcription skills.
- Practice speaking fluently and listening attentively, contributing thoughtfully to class discussions and group work.
- Build writing stamina and independence through drafting, editing, and publishing, reflecting on their work to improve clarity and impact.
- Encounter a wide range of text types, progressively revisiting and deepening understanding of key genres and writing styles from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2.
Progression
The curriculum is designed to ensure steady progression in complexity and independence:
- In Key Stage 1, pupils develop foundational skills in phonics, vocabulary, sentence construction, and spoken language, building confidence through scaffolded sentence stacking and immersive experiences.
- In Key Stage 2, pupils refine their writing craft by mastering sophisticated grammar, punctuation, and stylistic techniques, expanding their vocabulary, and applying their skills across a broader range of subjects and purposes.
- Throughout the phases, pupils revisit core concepts regularly to consolidate knowledge, supported by retrieval and spaced practice, ensuring strong long-term retention and application.
- Assessment through independent writing outcomes aligned with the ‘Performance of Writing Framework’ enables tailored support to meet individual needs and maintain high expectations for all learners.
Wider Impact
English at Our Lady and St Joseph’s is not only about academic success but also about developing articulate, empathetic, and confident individuals ready to engage with the world. Through reading, writing, and speaking, pupils enhance their critical thinking and creativity, enabling them to participate actively as responsible citizens. Our curriculum reflects our commitment to inclusion and diversity by broadening pupils’ understanding of other cultures, faiths, and perspectives, supporting the school’s wider improvement priorities. Ultimately, our English curriculum equips pupils with the communication skills essential for lifelong learning, further education, and meaningful contribution to society, fully embodying our vision to nurture excellence in every child.