At St. James’ Primary School, we believe that literacy and communication are key life skills. Our English curriculum is written with consideration of our vision, mission (RACE: Respect, Aspiration, Community, Enquiring minds) and values statement as well as the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the National Curriculum. Through the English curriculum, we will help children develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively and creatively through spoken and written language and equip them with the skills to become lifelong learners. We want children to enjoy and appreciate literature and its rich variety.

English is at the heart of all children’s learning. English enables children both to communicate with others effectively for a variety of purposes and to examine their own and others’ experiences, feelings and ideas, giving these order and meaning. Because English is central to children’s intellectual, emotional and social development it has an essential role across the curriculum and helps pupils’ learning to be coherent and progressive.

We aim for our pupils to:

• Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• Foster an interest in words and their meanings, and to develop a growing vocabulary in both spoken and written form
• Be able to write in a variety of styles and forms showing awareness of audience and purpose
• Have a good understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• Be effective, competent communicators, able to speak clearly in formal presentation
• Listen to the ideas of others and use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• Produce effective, well-presented written work.

SJA Reading Progression

SJA Writing Progression

SJA Writing Long Term Plan

We are proudly displaying some lovely examples of writing. 😃

End of year expectations

Our English Learning Goals

By the end of the year, I aim to be able to...

Year 1     Year 2

Year 3     Year 4

Year 5    Year 6

Spelling

Click here to practise your weekly spellings and spelling bee lists at home. 

Phonics

We use Read Write Inc Phonics in reception, year 1 and year 2.

Read, Write Inc.  Phonics Click here for introductory video

Please see the links below for ways to help your child with their reading at home. Your child's home reading book will guide you to the correct set to practise. Please ask you child's teacher if you're not sure.

RWInc read at home newsletters

With lots of links to videos for parents and carers as well as for children.

Speed Sounds

Set 1

Red

Green

Pink

Yellow

Grey

With thanks to All Saints for setting up these really helpful Sways.

The links are valid until 19th April 2025.

Reading schemes

Once children have successfully completed the Read, Write Inc phonics scheme they have all the skills they need to read all sorts of different books. We choose reading books from a range of schemes like those below to provide structure, progression and variety to meet the interests and needs of our children.  Click here for your handy book band list.

Rigby Rocket/Star/Quest	Pocket Books: Tales/Sci-fi/Facts (Ginn)	Lighthouse (Ginn)
Oxford Reading Tree	Collins Big Cat	Engage Literacy
Pelican Guided Reading and Writing	Rigby Navigator	Whole texts

Click here to visit our school library page.