At Arthur Bugler Primary School, we believe that learning to read, write and communicate effectively underpins all learning. Teachers plan English lessons for Literacy-specific learning every day in school, in line with the expectations of the National Curriculum.
Approach to Teaching Reading and Phonic Skills
For information on how we teach Phonics please read our How we teach phonics document.
Writing
A major focus at Arthur Bugler Primary School is on grammatically accurate and fluent writing. Teachers model the writing and planning process through shared writing sessions where ideas are collected and developed. Children work in individually, or in pairs, to write narrative and non-narrative texts.
Grammar and punctuation are contextually taught within Literacy. Objectives taught within Literacy are used to develop writing across the curriculum. Word processing, combining text and graphics, is developed using computer programs such as Word and Publisher where possible.
There are often exciting Literacy events throughout the year, where everyone can enjoy reading and writing together. They are exciting events for all children and staff.
All our children have daily Literacy lessons. This includes reading, writing, spelling and grammar teaching. There are daily opportunities to practice and enjoy reading at Arthur Bugler including in our structured reading lessons. Reading occurs at other times of the day too, for example in whole class sessions where exciting stories are shared with the children. We strongly promote reading and writing across the curriculum so that children have a sense of purpose and can apply their learning.
Reading
At Arthur Bugler Primary School, we are a reading school. Reading underpins all areas of the curriculum and it is essential, to us, that children are taught the skills to move them from early readers to proficient readers, developing their love of the written word and extending their understanding of vocabulary. We ensure that all children are given the opportunity to explore a range of genres, across different themes which will enable them to extend their understanding of experiences, outside of their own.
Every teacher acts as a role model to the children at Arthur Bugler, supporting children to explore a range of authors and highlighting similarities and difference between texts, authors and genres. On a daily basis, children hear carefully chosen stories in their class novels or beloved books, developing their understanding of language and themes in writing. Children have weekly reading assemblies which share thematic texts, deliver author information and provide background knowledge about texts that are shared.
Our reading scheme has been carefully developed to look at progression through different texts and to ensure that children can access books which meet their knowledge and understanding of phonics. Children are assessed regularly throughout the school year to ensure that the books that they are accessing, link directly to their reading ability. Their reading is recorded onto our online reading records which can be added to by both parents and teachers.
For us, at Arthur Bugler Primary School, reading is not a subject that is simply taught at school. It is a life skill. We work alongside our community, using our parents and carers as partners in the process of supporting children’s reading development. Parents have access to workshops at different key stages, half termly newsletters and are given documents which provide them with suggestions to use when reading at home.
Communication
We teach all our children to become effective communicators, working with them on their speaking skills in a range of contexts so that they can express themselves with clarity and confidence. Our staff value the importance of speech and language development. Children are supported to articulate clearly, with close attention to accurate grammar and pronunciation in speech, at all times of the school day.
Handwriting
We take great pride in presentation and see handwriting as a vital component of Literacy. All staff promotes good practice in handwriting. Our aim is for all pupils to have developed an automatic, joined style by the time they enter Key Stage 2.
Grammar
At Arthur Bugler, grammar teaching is a core element of our Literacy curriculum. There is a range of compelling evidence to support the teaching of modern grammar for writing, summarised in a report by The Exeter Grammar for Writing Project, December 2010. The characteristics of spoken language are very different from written language. Writing needs to be more concise and explicit, whereas spoken language often relies on context, facial expression, intonation and pause and gesture to convey meaning and create effect. As part of grammar study, it is important that children learn the conventions of Standard English so that they can adopt an appropriate level of formality in their writing appropriate to audience and purpose.
If you have any questions about Literacy at Arthur Bugler Primary School, please do speak to your class teacher.
Please see our website calendar for dates of our parent and family workshops and termly events that are designed to enable support at home.
KS1 Literacy Parent Workshop
