English

Head of Department: Mr Andrew Owen

In the Junior School, our aim is to help children develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively through spoken and written language by helping children to enjoy and appreciate literature and its rich variety.

All children receive quality literacy teaching on a daily basis and activities are differentiated according to the individual needs of each child.

Speaking and Listening

Children are encouraged to develop their ability to express and communicate meaning in spoken language, listening to and interpreting what others say in a classroom atmosphere where they feel relaxed and confident that their talk is valued.

Opportunities are provided for children to perform or to persuade others and to reflect on topical issues associated with cross-curricular themes.

Reading

We aim to make reading an enjoyable experience that is creative and active. Children are encouraged to read widely, in order to understand and engage with various types of text for enjoyment and learning.

Opportunities are provided for children to develop their reading for a variety of contexts, purposes and audiences by providing a wide range of reading activities in the classroom and in our Libraries.

Writing

By studying the uses of language across a variety or fiction and non-fiction texts, children are given opportunities to develop their own writing to communicate meaning appropriate to the context, purpose, reader and audience.

Children are encouraged to develop their decision-making, planning and drafting skills, as they are made increasingly aware of the conventions of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Through a variety of writing tasks, children are given opportunities to develop and apply their knowledge, skills and understanding of information technology and to appreciate the writing process.