Our English Curriculum at St. Oswald’s CE Primary School
Developing a Love of Language and Literacy
At St. Oswald’s CE Primary School, English lies at the heart of everything we do. We help pupils build confidence, curiosity, and imagination through reading, writing, speaking, and listening. From their first stories in Reception to persuasive essays in Year 6, children learn to communicate ideas with clarity and purpose.
Our English curriculum blends enjoyment with challenge. Every lesson develops essential literacy skills while nurturing empathy and creativity. As pupils explore diverse texts, they discover new worlds and voices — and begin to see themselves as confident readers, thoughtful writers, and curious thinkers.
Ultimately, English at St. Oswald’s equips pupils with the language and inspiration to shape their future. Join us in celebrating stories, imagination, and the power of words.
Our Vision for English
Our English vision focuses on Love, Hope, and Courage — the values that shape every aspect of school life. Teaching draws pupils into stories with meaningful messages about kindness, resilience, and empathy.
Writing opportunities often connect to our “Love your Neighbour” theme. For example, pupils might write stories with a moral, create persuasive texts about community care, or compose explanation pieces on supporting elderly neighbours. These meaningful links give writing a real‑world purpose.
How We Teach English
We aim to make English enjoyable, active, and inspiring. Lessons help pupils master reading, writing, and communication through shared discussion, creative tasks, and regular practice.
- Daily English Lessons: Each class studies high‑quality texts to explore key genres, integrating Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar (SPAG) throughout.
- Daily Phonics: In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children follow Rocket Phonics to strengthen decoding skills. When they move into Key Stage 2, they continue grammar and spelling study through Grammarsaurus.
- Comprehension Skills: Teachers guide pupils to read with fluency and expression. They also practise predicting, summarising, clarifying, and inferring meaning during interactive reading sessions.
- Daily Story Time: Shared reading builds vocabulary and deepens appreciation for literature. Listening together reinforces both enjoyment and understanding.
- Reading at Home: Families play a vital role. Pupils read frequently at home, using reading diaries to celebrate progress and form good habits.
Through this consistent approach, children grow in confidence and discover the power of words to inspire others.
Our English Curriculum
Our English curriculum is rooted in high-quality literary texts from a range of authors and backgrounds. Teachers plan clear, sequential units guided by the Ready Steady Write scheme and the National Curriculum.
- Exploring Texts: Pupils discuss and analyse texts to deepen understanding and broaden vocabulary.
- SPAG in Context: Grammar, punctuation, and spelling are taught explicitly and practised within meaningful writing tasks.
- Writing Outcomes: Every unit has a clear goal that inspires purposeful writing across various genres and audiences.
- Cross‑Curricular Links: Reading and writing skills are developed across subjects such as History, Geography, and Science.
Handwriting
Handwriting development begins in EYFS and Key Stage 1 through a pre‑cursive script that supports clear letter formation. By the end of Year 3, pupils begin joining their writing. Throughout Key Stage 2, they continue to refine neatness, consistency, and pace. This structure helps ensure every pupil feels proud of their handwriting and presentation. Click here to view our policy.
Collaborative Learning and Discussion
Children share ideas and work together through discussion, partner tasks, and small‑group work.
They learn to value different perspectives, give and receive feedback politely, and present group projects with confidence.
This approach supports respect, teamwork, and communication — essential life skills alongside literacy.
Monitoring and Assessment
The quality of English teaching is reviewed regularly by subject leaders, senior leaders, and external assessors. Observations, book studies, and pupil feedback ensure teaching stays effective and inspiring.
Progress is measured against National Curriculum objectives for each year group. Writing is moderated internally and externally for accuracy, and statutory assessments such as the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check and Year 2 and 6 SATs ensure consistent standards.
Cross‑Curricular Links
English sits at the heart of our curriculum, helping pupils apply their skills beyond literacy lessons:
- Art and Design: Pupils describe and evaluate creative work — visit our Art page.
- Computing: Digital literacy supports writing, presentation, and research — see our Computing page.
- Design and Technology: Pupils use writing to explain, instruct, and evaluate — explore our Design and Technology page.
These connections give reading and writing real purpose and help children see how literacy supports every subject.
Preparing for the Future
Through English, pupils learn to read with understanding, write with purpose, and communicate with confidence. They become reflective learners who value language as a means of creativity, expression, and connection.
At St. Oswald’s CE Primary School, we want every pupil to leave with curiosity, imagination, and a lifelong love of reading and writing — ready to succeed both in learning and in life.
