Primary English
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.
- Dr Seuss
At Hollinwood Academy, we believe in the teaching of Communication, Reading and Writing Skills as the foundation for successful learning.
It is our aim across the Primary phase to develop these skills in all of our children.
Communication – We provide English lessons that can be adapted to suit all leaners through a variety of approaches so that they can become confident communicators.
Reading – We stimulate a love for reading by choosing accessible and engaging stories or texts, which inspire our learners to become passionate readers.
Writing – We provide all learners with a range of literacy skills for life, to support them now, and in the future.
English lessons at Hollinwood Academy
Our English lessons are delivered daily, tailored to the needs of our learners. Teaching is delivered by our highly skilled staff, using a blend of experience and knowledge, supported by the purposeful use of technology. We use a variety of schemes of learning to aid English and additional target support lessons are provided to allow English interventions to support our young learners.
Reading and Comprehension
Hollinwood Academy’s intent to reading is designed to cultivate a love for literature, advance language and communication proficiency, and foster a comprehensive understanding of texts, thereby enhancing the overall educational experience for our children and young people.
At the heart of our reading intent is the commitment to providing a personalised and inclusive learning environment where every child and young person, can access high-quality reading experiences. Our aim is to instil a passion for reading, develop crucial comprehension and communication skills, and nurture independence and confidence in our children and young peoples' reading abilities.
Our overarching aim is to cultivate effective communicators who can navigate society and express themselves and understand others in a manner best suited to their individual needs, whether verbal, written, or both. We endeavour to provide our children and young people with the foundational skills necessary to pursue further studies, secure employment, or engage in volunteer placements relevant to their individual abilities beyond compulsory schooling.
We place great importance on fostering a love of reading in children and young people. To achieve this, we provide a range of strategies and resources designed to engage and support learners at different stages of their reading journey.
One approach we employ is the use of sensory stories, particularly suitable for children and young people who are just beginning to develop their reading skills. These stories are carefully crafted to stimulate all the senses, creating a truly immersive reading experience. By engaging multiple sensory pathways, we aim to enhance reading engagement and comprehension.
In addition, we use various tools and methods to support learners with additional needs. TD Snap, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), sign along, and symbols are incorporated into our teaching to facilitate communication and understanding for those who require alternative means of expression.
Phonics and English lessons are delivered using the Read Write Inc program throughout the primary stage. This comprehensive program not only focuses on teaching phonics but also provides opportunities to develop reading, comprehension, grammar, and writing skills. By adopting this approach, we ensure a solid foundation in literacy for all our children and young people.
We also recognise the importance of early identification and support for children and young people experiencing speech and language development barriers. WellComm is a valuable tool used to assess and identify areas of concern in language, communication, and interaction. This enables us to provide targeted interventions at an early stage, ensuring that children and young people receive the support they need to thrive in their education journey. Moreover, we implement a structured approach to personalised teaching and learning through the use of targeted interventions from The Big Book of Ideas. This resource enables us to tailor our teaching to meet the unique needs of individual learners, enhancing their progress and achievement.
Lastly, we embrace
- Bedrock learning: We implement Bedrock Learning, a web-based platform, to enhance children’s and young peoples reading and comprehension skills. This program exposes learners to a wide range of words, reinforcing their understanding through engaging activities.
- Guided Reading: Our teaching methodology includes regular guided reading sessions, where children and young people have the opportunity to read and discuss a variety of texts in small groups. This approach fosters comprehension, language acquisition, and critical thinking skills.
To further support our children and young people, we leverage a range of apps and support tools. One such app is Epic!, which not only allows children and young people to read a vast collection of books but also provides an option for audio narration. Additionally, our school library plays a pivotal role in promoting a reading culture. We encourage children and young people to explore different genres and develop a love for reading.
By creating these opportunities and utilizing effective resources, we aim to cultivate competent and enthusiastic readers within our formal classroom environment.
Through these varied strategies and resources, we strive to create an inclusive and vibrant reading curriculum that equips our children and young people with the necessary skills and enthusiasm to become confident and proficient readers.
Writing
At Hollinwood Academy we use the Talk for Writing approach to enable children and young people to read and write independently for a variety of audiences and purposes within different subjects. A key feature is that children and young people internalise the language structures needed to write through ‘talking the text’, as well as close reading. The approach moves from dependence towards independence, with the teacher using shared and guided teaching to develop the ability in children to write creatively and powerfully.
Talk for Writing, was developed by Pie Corbett and is powerful aid to learning across the curriculum as it is based on the principles of how people learn. The movement from imitation to innovation to independent application can be adapted to suit the needs of learners of any stage.
Talk for Writing Long Term Plan
Handwriting
Handwriting is a crucial skill that enables learners to express their thoughts and ideas effectively. In line with the 2014 National Curriculum in England, our aim is to foster a high standard of handwriting among our learners at Hollinwood Academy.
At Hollinwood Academy, we recognise the importance of providing learners with the necessary tools and resources to develop their handwriting skills. To support this, we have incorporated the use of Wiggle to Squiggle, ABC star and Nelson handwriting schemes into our curriculum. These schemes have been carefully selected for their proven effectiveness in helping learners improve their letter formation, spacing, and overall handwriting legibility.
Our intent is to ensure that learners develop a neat, consistent, and cursive handwriting style. We believe that fluent cursive handwriting promotes the flow of ideas, enhances brain connectivity, and supports the development of fine motor skills.
Spelling
Our spelling curriculum is designed to provide a structured and progressive approach to spelling, giving our children and young people a solid foundation in phonics, rules, patterns, and exceptions. Through a combination of explicit teaching, regular practice, and engaging activities, we aim to develop their spelling skills, vocabulary, and understanding of language conventions.
To enhance our spelling curriculum, we have adopted the use of Spelling Shed, an interactive online resource that motivates and engages children and young people in their spelling journey. This platform allows our children and young people to practise spelling words using a range of game-based activities, making learning enjoyable and stimulating.
Regular assessment and feedback are integral to our spelling curriculum. Our teachers use a variety of methods to assess learner progress, including weekly spelling tests and ongoing observation. This enables us to identify any areas for development and provide tailored support where needed, ensuring every child and young person reaches their full potential.
Communication English Curriculum
The intent of the English curriculum within the communication classes is to establish a comprehensive framework that ensures children and young people working at pre-national curriculum levels are fully immersed in English education. Operating within the engagement model, this curriculum is designed to interweave English learning into the daily timetable, guaranteeing a constant exposure to English language skills and concepts for all children and young people. Through this integrated approach, children and young people engage with early reading, early writing, speaking, listening, and overall communication skills. By embedding English into various aspects of the school day, children and young people have ample opportunities to apply these skills in practical situations, facilitating a exposure to every day English concepts. The overarching goal is to cultivate a learning environment that fosters continuous English language development and application for children and young people working at pre-national curriculum levels.
Throughout Hollinwood Academy, staff use the strategies from ELKLAN to support communication. ELKLAN supports the language and learning of children with speech, language, and communication needs. ELKLAN equips teachers and support staff with the knowledge and skills to identify and address communication difficulties in children, thereby enhancing their learning experience. Once the areas of need are identified for students, staff can implement ELKLAN strategies, creating an inclusive environment that nurtures effective communication. This approach not only benefits individual children but also enhances overall educational outcomes within the school community. Hollinwood Academy are working towards Communication Friendly Status as a whole school approach.
For more information - Elklan Training Limited
Information for Parents - Training for Parents and Carers | Elklan Training Ltd
Resources - Free Resources | Elklan Training Ltd
Communication English_Curriculum - Big Ideas.pdf
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
The curriculum adaptations and pedagogy at Hollinwood Academy is centered around meeting the unique needs and abilities of every learner, ensuring equal opportunities for academic, personal, and social development. The primary goals include:
1. Inclusivity: Adapt the curriculum to ensure that all learners have access to quality education, regardless of their individual needs.
2. Adaptive Teaching: Provide personalised learning experiences that cater to the diverse abilities, interests, and learning styles of the children and young people.
3. Progression: Foster a holistic and sequential approach to learning, allowing children and young people to build on their prior knowledge, skills, and understanding from their identified starting points.
4. Empowerment: Develop independent learners who are equipped with the skills, resilience, and self-confidence required to succeed academically and, in their future lives.
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy
Assessment
At Hollinwood Academy, we employ a comprehensive approach to assessing every child and young person’s progress in English. Our assessments are designed to align with the 2014 National Curriculum in England. All children and young people's attainment is tracked and monitored through our whole school formative assessment platform Evidence for Learning. Staff are able to evidence the steps the children and young people have made in spoken language, reading and writing. We formally test the children in Read Write Inc, to assess attainment levels alongside and some groups also complete weekly spelling lessons. By utilising these assessments, we ensure that our teaching remains closely aligned with the national curriculum, enabling us to identify areas where additional support or challenge is required.
For children and young people who are working below the National Curriculum standards, we employ pre-key stage standards to assess their performance. Additionally, children and young people who are working even below pre-key stage standards are assessed using the Engagement model of learning, which takes into account their individual learning needs. To provide individualised support, each child and young person has bespoke and personalised English progress targets, which we track closely. We believe in fostering a strong partnership with parents, and hence, share these targets with them on a termly basis via Arbor, our digital communication platform.
By adopting this rigorous and tailored approach to English assessments, we strive to ensure that all our children and young people in formal develop a solid foundation in English and achieve their full potential.
Technology & Websites
We firmly believe in the power of technology to enhance learning, and we have made it an integral part of our English curriculum. At the primary stage, we embrace the use of iPads and other technological tools, enabling all children and young people to engage actively with their learning. By utilising these resources, we aim to remove barriers and make English accessible for every child and young person.
All children and young people have access to a wide range of interactive English and learning apps.
The children enjoy going on Epic! where they can read and listen to books, and we promote a culture of reading within our school library. Learners use ABC star to support with handwriting.
We also use Bedrock, TD Snap and Clicker 8 to enhance our English offer.
https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/
https://www.cricksoft.com/uk/clicker/win-mac
https://apps.apple.com/bn/app/abc-star-letter-tracing/id1252191274
https://uk.tobiidynavox.com/pages/td-snap
Teach Your Monster: Free Phonics, Reading and Mathematics Games
Wider curriculum and celebrations
Talk for Writing Spring 2024 Celebration
World Book Day 2024
Mrs Bramley's Talk for Writing Spring 2024
National Story Week
Children and young people from Hollinwood Academy enthusiastically participated in the National Story Week, a highly anticipated event that celebrates storytelling and encourages creativity. During this week, children and young people embraced their writing strengths and demonstrated their incredible abilities through various mediums.
