English

Reading

At St. Stephen’s, the purpose of teaching reading is to inspire a lifelong love of books and develop strong reading skills across various genres. Our school uses a structured approach, including Guided Reading, Independent Reading, and 1:1 sessions, to ensure children are exposed to diverse authors and writing styles. The curriculum is designed to foster fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary development, with children encouraged to explore a wide range of texts. A passion for reading is also nurtured through our Year 6 Reading Champions and book donations.

Phonics is taught to help children become confident readers and writers. The school uses the Phonics Bug programme, which focuses on sound recognition and blending to decode words. The goal is for children to read fluently, with good comprehension, and develop a love for reading. Phonics is taught daily, with differentiated support based on individual needs, ensuring all children progress at their own pace. Regular assessments ensure the correct phonics level is matched to each child's ability, helping them to succeed in both reading and writing while building confidence and self-esteem.

Writing

At St. Stephen's, the purpose of writing is to nurture confident and creative writers who can communicate their ideas clearly. Our school emphasises a structured approach, beginning with idea generation, followed by drafting, revising, and finalizing written work. Writing is taught through daily lessons, with opportunities for both scaffolded support and independent writing tasks. The curriculum promotes the development of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and handwriting through practical application. Children are encouraged to write across subjects, and their work is often shared with real audiences to boost engagement. Overall, we aim to foster a positive environment for developing lifelong writing skills.

Follow the link below to see a timeline of our latest X posts about our learning in English across school.

#sssreading (English Reading on X)

#ssswriting (English Writing on X)

If you would like to learn more about our English Curriculum, please contact our Reading Lead (Miss Booth), our Writing Lead (Mr Scott), or our Curriculum Lead (Mr Hughes).