“You can find magic wherever you look.  Sit back and relax, all you need is a book." 

Dr Seuss 

English is at the heart of our curriculum and is integral to every child’s learning journey. Through reading, writing, and discussion, our children learn to express their ideas, thoughts, and feelings, enabling meaningful interactions with others. Proficiency in literacy is crucial for positive societal participation and for children to flourish in their academic potential. 

Reading 

When children learn to read, they unlock the ability to acquire knowledge and access a world of exploration and imagination. At Michael Faraday, we believe that fostering a lifelong love of reading is essential for every child’s development. Through reading, children can deepen their knowledge on subjects, follow their interests and embark on limitless adventures. We believe that books should serve as both mirrors and windows. As mirrors, books allow children to see themselves and relate to the text, fostering a sense of belonging. As windows, books reflect the rich diversity of our society, helping children learn about the lives and experiences of others. We also have a well-stocked school library as well as classroom book areas where children are encouraged to read for pleasure. Our reading environment provides opportunities for children to explore a wide range of books that cater to their interests and reading levels.

Our reading approach: 

• In Key Stage 2, we use a whole class reading approach to maximise the benefits of high-quality texts, expand children's vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the literature they read.  The leaders carefully select novels that are diverse and represent a range of high-quality authors, ensuring the children are exposed to a broad spectrum of perspectives and literary excellence.
• In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds approach to teaching reading. This systematic synthetic phonics program is designed to ensure every child becomes a confident and fluent reader. Through engaging and structured lessons, we provide a solid foundation in phonics that supports early reading success.

 

Writing

Writing is essential for children to express their ideas and develop their thinking processes. We aim for children to understand that all writing serves as a means of communication and to write with an audience in mind.  At Michael Faraday, we have implemented the Talk for Writing approach to teach writing across the school. 

The philosophy of Talk for Writing is rooted in the belief that children learn best by imitating and internalising the language structures of high-quality texts before innovating and inventing their own. This approach is implemented through three key phases of imitation, innovation and invention. 

By following these phases, children gain a deep understanding of the structure and elements of written language, ultimately enhancing their writing skills and fostering a love for writing.

 

Speaking and listening

Language skills are crucial for improving life chances and social mobility, making speaking and listening a central focus in all we do. By fostering clear self-expression, we aim to equip children with essential communication skills. Language proficiency is also vital for behaviour and well-being, with research indicating that two-thirds of young offenders have significant, previously unidentified speech, language, and communication difficulties.

In our school, we provide children with meaningful opportunities for purposeful talk across the curriculum, ensuring they develop the skills needed to express themselves confidently and effectively.

Phonics

We introduce phonics teaching, starting in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), following the 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised' programme. This structured approach guides our teaching of phonics, enabling children to develop essential reading and spelling skills.

The programme outlines the systematic order in which sounds and tricky words are introduced throughout Early Years and Year 1. For detailed information on the order of sounds and tricky words taught, please click on the link below. 

Parents:  Click on the link below for guidance about how to support your child with saying their sounds and writing letters.