English
Intent
At Saltdean Primary School, our English curriculum is carefully designed to serve as the cornerstone of our students' educational journey, laying a strong foundation for their language development and academic success. Our overarching intent is to cultivate a deep and enduring appreciation for the English language, fostering a love for reading, writing, speaking, and listening among our pupils.
Central to our curriculum intent is the recognition of the transformative power of literacy in shaping students' lives and opening doors to new opportunities. We strive to instill in our students a lifelong passion for learning and a belief in their own potential to achieve greatness through the mastery of English language skills.
Our Reading Overview |
Our Writing Overview |
Reading
Reading is the key to all learning and we strongly believe in building a partnership with parents/carers to nurture and develop children as readers. Our curriculum provides a variety of reading opportunities, including: independent reading, 1-to-1 sessions in Early Years and Key Stage 1, shared reading, guided/whole-class reading, and exploration of phonic books, 'real' books, topic books, and reading schemes.
We track children's progress using book bands and standardised tests, ensuring they are reading at an appropriate level. Our home reading program encourages children to read at least four times a week, with phonically decodable books provided for Early Years and Key Stage 1 students and reading diaries for Key Stage 2 students.
To foster a culture of reading for pleasure, we implement strategic measures such as regular read-aloud sessions, active library promotion and dedicated reading time. Our teachers serve as influencers through regular 'book clubs,' where they recommend, review, and champion books tailored to our pupils' interests. The goal is to empower students with the ability to choose their own books, acknowledging the motivational impact of personal selections on reading engagement.
Library
Each class has a timetabled library slot every week for browsing, changing books and story time.
Phonics
Phonics instruction is a fundamental part of our curriculum, taught through the Sounds Write Programme. This comprehensive system enables classroom professionals to teach reading, spelling, and writing effectively. Additionally, parents/carers can access a free online course, "Help your child to read and write," which covers the first seven units of the Initial Code.
More information about Sounds Write please look at their website.
https://www.sounds-write.co.uk/
Sounds Write offers a free online course for parents to ‘Help your child to read and write.’
'Help your child to read and write' is a free, online course. It's aimed specifically at parents and carers who are interested in putting their children on the first steps to literacy and it covers the first seven units of the Initial Code.
You can find the course by clicking on: https://sounds-write.co.uk/support-for-parents-and-carers/
Our curriculum emphasises spelling skills developed through the Sounds Write Programme, with an emphasis on syllables within polysyllabic words. In Key Stage 2, we also utilise the No Nonsense Spelling programme and encourage students to learn and use statutory words from Years 3/4 and Years 5/6 in their writing.
Writing
Children are provided with numerous opportunities to write across all areas of the curriculum, with speaking and listening skills woven throughout. In September 2026 we introduced 'The Power of Reading' which is a highly regarded approach to teaching writing. It focuses on high quality texts and promotes reading and writing for pleasure. Grammar, punctuation, spelling (GPS) and handwriting are explicitly taught and integrated into the everyday writing process.
The following PDF document outlines the stages of our writing sequence at Saltdean Primary School:
sps writing sequence 2024 docx.pdf
Implementation
Our curriculum implementation is guided by evidence-based pedagogical practices and informed by current advancements in literacy research - consequently, we adopt a holistic approach to teaching English, integrating reading, writing, speaking and listening across all aspects of the curriculum, to promote a comprehensive understanding of language.
In our daily English lessons, we employ a diverse range of teaching strategies and instructional techniques tailored to meet the diverse learning needs of our students. Phonics instruction is systematically taught using the structured approach of Sounds Write, to ensure all students develop strong foundational literacy skills.
Guided reading sessions are conducted regularly to provide students with opportunities to engage with a wide range of texts, develop comprehension skills, and deepen their understanding of literary concepts. Writing workshops are integrated into our curriculum to support students in becoming proficient writers, with a focus on developing their ability to generate ideas, organize their thoughts, and craft purposeful and coherent written pieces.
Speaking and listening activities are embedded throughout the curriculum to enhance students' oral communication skills, promote active listening, and encourage collaborative learning experiences. Students are given opportunities to participate in discussions, presentations and debates to develop their confidence and ability to express themselves effectively.
We utilise an agreed script to support the teaching of grammar and punctuation, ensuring consistency and clarity in instruction across all year groups. This script serves as a structured framework for delivering grammar and punctuation lessons, providing teachers with guidance on content and delivery methods. Through this standardized approach, we aim to enhance students' understanding and application of grammar and punctuation rules effectively.
Here is a small sample of 'SPS grammar cards' which are used in displays and embedded in digital lesson slides -to support the teaching of various grammar and punctuation terms:
sps grammar cards website sample.pdf
Impact
The impact of our English curriculum is reflected in the progress, achievements, and personal growth of our students. Through ongoing assessment, monitoring and evaluation, we track individual student progress and adjust our teaching approaches to address areas of need and provide targeted support.
Our students leave Saltdean Primary School as proficient readers, writers, speakers and listeners, equipped with the essential literacy skills and confidence to succeed in secondary education and beyond. They demonstrate a deep understanding and appreciation for the power of language to communicate ideas, express emotions and connect with others.
Beyond academic attainment, the impact of our English curriculum extends to the development of lifelong learners who are curious, creative and critically engaged with the world around them. Our students move on to secondary education with a love for literature, a passion for learning and the resilience and adaptability to navigate the complexities of the modern world with confidence and conviction.
