At Temple Ewell we believe that proficiency in reading and writing, and English language skills is fundamental to children’s education. We aim to provide a high quality English curriculum, that fosters excellent knowledge and skills in speaking and listening, reading, and writing. This proficiency in the reading and writing of Standard English, and language development, is the key to unlocking the rest of the academic curriculum so that all children can communicate their ideas and knowledge effectively to others and express themselves fluently, creatively and imaginatively. We recognise the importance of nurturing and inspiring a culture where children take pride in their acquisition and use of English knowledge and skills.

English at Temple Ewell is taught both as singular focused areas of learning as well as being integral in all other subject areas across the curriculum. English includes ‘Reading, Writing, Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling’. Writing knowledge and skills are expected to be seen within the children’s writing. A wide variety of tasks in lessons are based on quality texts which further supports a love of books and inspires the children to develop their knowledge of vocabulary and skills as authors.

'Writing can help you write stories and if you write stories you can be an author'. Destiny

'Writing is fun because it's like a mystery'. Theo

'You can be creative and free to use your imagination and do wild things with writing'. Emily

What Reading Looks like at Temple Ewell

Every child has opportunities to read to and with an adult whether 1:1 or as part of small groups or in whole class shared reading activities, with the most vulnerable heard at least 3-4 times a week. Throughout the day all children in KS1 and KS2 have a wide variety of opportunities to read in class, giving teachers and TAs the opportunity to listen to children read 1:1. Children also have opportunities to read throughout all areas of the curriculum during ‘Focused Reading’ lessons, free independent reading, reading through research, reading to others and during whole school worship assemblies. These opportunities foster a deeper understanding of what they read as well as helping develop their skills at reading aloud.

Children also enjoy reading and performing all different reading genres and then performing in Reading Theatre time.

'If you can read you can read important things and it helps you get a job'. Jacob

'Reading helps us to enjoy all different sorts of books'. Mia

'Reading is calming and it makes me happy'. Evelyn

'When you read you can use your imagination to see pictures'. Hugo 

'Reading and using your imagination can be endless'. Destiny

'If someone else reads the same book as you they may have a different perspective and you can talk about it together'. Isla

In EYFS and KS1 children are taught in small groups by class teachers and TAs. Reading is taught through Bug club synthetic daily phonics sessions with time to review and repeat newly acquired learning and knowledge. KS2 Children who need support in phonics use Rapid Phonics which also provides access to reading phonetically decodable books pitched at the children’s abilities.  All children in Temple Ewell also have access to reading book banded books to develop comprehension knowledge and skills, providing a wider scope of creativity and vocabulary to inspire children as both readers and writers. The children also have the opportunity to transfer their reading knowledge to write at length across all areas of the curriculum, building up writing skills, editing and improving their writing in fiction, non fiction and poetry.

The Reluctant Dragon