English |
Our Writing Curriculum
At Silsoe Lower School, we believe that every child is a writer. We are passionate about developing every child’s knowledge, motivation and confidence in their writing. We have chosen HFL Education’s ESSENTIALWRITING as the basis of our writing curriculum for years 1-4. This is an ambitious and progressive writing scheme which provides our children with opportunities and tools to write for a range of specific purposes and authentic audiences. As a result, our children feel inspired and ready to write high-quality outcomes within the classroom but also have the knowledge, strategies and confidence to choose to write in their own lives.
Each year group has 13-16 teaching units, all of which use diverse and high-quality literature as good examples of writing craft and to help to motivate or inspire children to write.
ESSENTIALWRITING is fully aligned with the National Curriculum for English including writing composition, vocabulary, grammar & punctuation for each year group. Each writing unit is progressively structured and centred around the different writing purposes: to entertain; to inform; to persuade and to discuss. The writing purposes are also progressively sequenced across the school (see link below).
Our Reading Curriculum
At Silsoe Lower School we have adopted the DfE validated Little Wandle Phonics Scheme which begins in the Foundation Stage (Reception year) and continues throughout the school. Little Wandle’s vision and mission aligns with our school vision and ethos; to teach reading and change lives and that every child should be supported to learn to read fluently so that they can enjoy reading.
Phonics lessons are taught predominantly in Reception and Key Stage 1. Key Stage 2 continue with Little Wandle for phonics support and intervention.
As parents/carers there are ways to support children in their early reading as this is the foundation to support children with the rest of their learning.
Included in this page is support for parents/carers in understanding what phonics is and how it works, an overview of the whole-school scheme and the levels the children will be working through and a guide for parents about the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check.
Please see the link below to Little Wandle for support for parents/carers in knowing how the sounds are pronounced and taught in school.
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Information for Parents
Please see below for the latest Phonics Screening Check information for parents. This will be updated as and when a new one is published.
If you would like to know more about your child's English curriculum, please make an appointment to speak to your child's teacher.