Impact 

• Children communicate confidently, listening carefully to others and expressing their ideas clearly for different purposes and audiences. 

• Children develop enjoyment, independence and pride in their writing. They can plan, draft, revise and edit, making thoughtful choices about vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. 

• Children write effectively across a range of genres, applying their skills in English lessons and across the wider curriculum. 

• Children become increasingly fluent, expressive and reflective readers who understand, discuss and respond to a wide range of texts. 

• Children draw on their reading to develop their vocabulary, broaden their knowledge and strengthen their own writing. 

• By the end of Year 6, children have the literacy skills, confidence and independence needed to access the secondary curriculum and continue developing as readers, writers and communicators. 

Intent 

At Burleyfields Primary School, English is at the heart of our curriculum. Through a language-rich environment, inspiring high-quality texts and meaningful opportunities to communicate, we help children become confident speakers, thoughtful readers and capable writers. These skills support learning across every subject and prepare children for life beyond primary school. 

At Burleyfields Primary School, we aim to provide an engaging and inclusive English curriculum that enables every child to succeed. We want children to: 

• Develop a lasting enjoyment of language, literature and communication. 

• Become confident, independent writers who understand how to adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences. 

• Build secure foundations in spelling, handwriting, grammar and punctuation. 

• Read widely and thoughtfully, developing fluency, comprehension and an appreciation of different authors, genres and perspectives. 

• Use an increasingly rich vocabulary to explain ideas, discuss learning and communicate with precision. 

• Develop the speaking and listening skills needed to participate in discussion, work collaboratively and present ideas confidently. 

• Recognise the value of English as a tool for learning, self-expression and participation in everyday life. 

Implementation 

Writing is taught through carefully sequenced daily English lessons, with high-quality texts providing inspiration and models for children’s own work. Teaching draws on Rosenshine’s principles, including reviewing prior learning, introducing new skills in small steps, modelling and guided practice. 

The writing journey begins in the Early Years, where children develop spoken language, physical coordination and confidence through purposeful play, mark-making and early writing opportunities. 

Across the school, teachers plan units that help children explore a text, understand its purpose and audience, develop ideas and practise the skills needed for a successful piece of writing. Drama, discussion, images, film clips and first-hand experiences provide meaningful starting points. 

Teachers model writing explicitly, explaining their choices about vocabulary, sentence structure and organisation. Children have time to rehearse ideas aloud, draft their work and make purposeful improvements through revising and editing. Spelling, handwriting, grammar and punctuation are taught explicitly and applied within writing. 

Following the phonics programme, children develop their reading through whole-class guided reading, discussion and independent reading. Teaching continues to strengthen fluency, expression and comprehension, including vocabulary, retrieval, inference, prediction and summarising. 

Teachers share carefully chosen books daily, introducing children to a broad range of stories, poetry and non-fiction. Texts reflect different experiences, cultures and perspectives, helping children develop their understanding of themselves and the wider world. 

Classroom books, access to the school library and opportunities to recommend texts help children make informed choices and develop their own reading interests. Dedicated reading time, book events and shared reading experiences strengthen our reading culture. 

Oracy is explicitly taught throughout English and the wider curriculum. Our approach develops the physical, linguistic, cognitive, social and emotional skills that support effective communication. 

Children practise these skills through storytelling, drama, role-play, collaborative tasks, discussion, debate and presentations. They learn to listen actively, take turns, build on others’ ideas, explain their reasoning and adapt their language for different audiences and purposes. 

Inclusion 

Appropriate scaffolding, resources and challenge support all learners, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Explicit modelling, vocabulary teaching and opportunities to rehearse ideas aloud help children access reading, writing and oracy. Assessment informs next steps and helps teachers address misconceptions promptly.