English
English is central to the curriculum at Riverbridge as it is the gateway to all learning. Everyone needs to be able to communicate effectively and appropriately in a range of situations. Learners in school communicate daily through speaking and listening, reading and writing. We aim to introduce a range of literature to pupils to improve the quality of their own language and to help them reflect on and consider the world.
Our English provision is supported by the use of the Power of Reading programme, a programme which ensures our curriculum is enriched by the use of quality children's texts from which a number of cross-curricular links can be made. More information about the programme can be found here: http://por.clpe.org.uk/
Speaking and Listening
From their earliest time in school children are taught to listen effectively and to develop their ability to talk in a range of situations; for example taking messages, carpet discussions, circle time, sharing opinions, class debates and speaking in assembly. Opportunities for role-play and drama further develop qualities of empathy and oracy and impact positively on children's reading (comprehension) and writing skills.
Reading
From the Foundation Stage a strong emphasis is placed on the teaching and learning of phonics. This is supported by a variety of other strategies designed to support each child's development as a fluent, independent reader who chooses to read for interest, information and enjoyment. Each class has a collection of books in addition to the school library. Children take home a book from their classroom that is an appropriate level for their reading ability and a book of their choice from the school library. Parents are encouraged to support their child's reading at home by listening to them read, reading with their children and reading to their children.
Towards the end of the Summer term all of our Year 1 children take part in the national Phonics screening test. Reading is formally assessed at the end of Year 2 and end of Year 6 within the context of the End of Key Stage Assessments.
Writing
Reading, speaking & listening and drama all support learners in a wide range of writing tasks linked to our Power of Reading texts and other areas of the curriculum. Children are taught grammar, spelling and punctuation in line with the National Curriculum through the high quality texts that are read in class. Daily teaching of spelling is also carried out using the Read Write Inc. spelling programme.
Phonics
At Riverbridge we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to teach phonics. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is a systematic synthetic phonics scheme based on the original Letters and Sounds programme. Teaching of phonics begins in the foundation stage and strategies for learning phonics are applied consistently throughout the school to support children. There are clear keep up strategies to support children who are identified as requiring additional support to ensure they do not fall behind with their phonics learning.
For information about what is taught in each phase of letters and sounds please see the Programme Overview document below
There are also useful videos below to help with supporting your child at home as well as a link to the parents’ page on the Little Wandle website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZtjFIvA_fs&t=2s
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
