English

Phonics and Reading

At Millbrook Junior School, we believe that reading should be a priority and at the heart of everything that we teach. We aim to equip every child with the necessary skills to read accurately, fluently and with increasing understanding.

We recognise that the teaching of quality phonics is imperative so that pupils are able to decode fluently before they can focus on comprehension and reading for meaning. As children join us from Key Stage 1, we will build on their current skills, knowledge and understanding.

Any child identified as reading below the expected level for their age will continue to learn phonics by following the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, Rapid Catch-up programme. Further information can be found on the right but also on the Little Wandle website: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

The Rapid Catch-up programme mirrors the main phonics programme but has a faster pace to help children to catch up quickly. This will allow children to secure the skills required for word recognition and decoding in early reading and writing.

We teach reading skills through our CLPE (Centre for Literacy in Primary Education) Power of Reading teaching sequences and during discrete reading skills lessons. We encourage and enable our children to practise and apply their reading skills through discussion in all subjects across the curriculum.

Once our children are independent readers, we use Accelerated Reader, a computer-based programme which encourages them to read and reach their individual targets. Our pupils are taught how to use the Dewey Decimal System and are then able to select their books from our well stocked Reading Hub. We also firmly believe that children must be allowed to read for ‘pleasure and at leisure’, so we encourage them to bring reading material of their own choice in to school to share with others.

For more information please visit https://clpe.org.uk/

Writing and Grammar

At Millbrook Junior School, it is our intent that children develop a love of writing for different registers and purposes.

We deliver our English lessons through The Power of Reading CLPE teaching sequences. A creative teaching approach is used for units of work that are based around quality children’s literature. Sequences include sessions where reading; speaking and listening; vocabulary and language development; and drama conventions are integral to writing outcomes.

Accuracy in syntax is also prioritised at Millbrook Junior School. We teach children to develop a knowledge of the different registers in writing and we reinforce the use of Standard English as necessary across the curriculum in both the spoken and written word. Grammar and punctuation is taught discretely through the Nelson Grammar scheme and grammatical concepts are interwoven within the CLPE teaching sequences. These are also practised verbally and applied as appropriate to all writing outcomes.

Spelling

At Millbrook Junior School, we want our children to have the confidence to use creative language; choose ambitious vocabulary and consider the impact of their word choices. To achieve this, our children need to learn strategies that will help them to develop the skills and knowledge to spell accurately.

All children across Millbrook Junior School follow the Nelson Spelling scheme. Pupils investigate spelling rules and patterns, and they undertake independent investigations to help them build the confidence required when applying these skills during their independent writing.

Handwriting

We believe that children should be encouraged to take great pride in the presentation of their work and that they should value their efforts at all times when writing across the curriculum. At Millbrook Junior School, we use the Letter-join handwriting scheme across all year groups. Our teachers teach and model letter formations and their joins, and our children subsequently practise these and apply them in their writing across all subjects.

For more information please visit https://www.letterjoin.co.uk/index.html

Subject Leader: Julia Curtis