English
At The Russell School, English sits at the heart of our curriculum. We want children to become confident readers, thoughtful writers and articulate speakers who can express their ideas clearly, listen to others and enjoy the power of language.
Our English curriculum is built around high-quality children’s literature, carefully chosen to inspire reading, writing, discussion and drama. From Nursery to Year 6, children experience a rich range of stories, picture books, poetry, non-fiction and diverse voices. These texts are linked to our wider curriculum and provide purposeful opportunities for children to write for different audiences and reasons.
Reading
We want every child to develop a love of reading and to see books as a source of pleasure, knowledge and imagination. In Nursery and Reception, children are immersed in stories, rhymes, songs and talk-rich play. In Reception and Year 1, early reading is taught through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, with children reading fully decodable books that match their phonics learning.
As children move through school, they continue to build fluency, accuracy and confidence. They are taught to understand, discuss and respond to increasingly challenging texts. Our reading spine ensures pupils encounter a wide range of authors, genres, cultures and perspectives, helping them to read both for pleasure and for information.
Writing
Writing at The Russell is purposeful, creative and rooted in quality texts. Children learn to write in a wide range of forms, including stories, poems, letters, diaries, reports, explanations, speeches and persuasive pieces. Writing is also developed across the wider curriculum, giving pupils meaningful opportunities to apply their skills in subjects such as history, geography and science.
Children are taught the full writing process: planning, oral rehearsal, drafting, editing, improving and publishing. Grammar and punctuation are taught progressively and applied within meaningful writing outcomes. Drama, discussion and vocabulary work are used to help children rehearse ideas before writing.
Speaking, listening and drama
Spoken language is central to our English curriculum. Children are encouraged to explain their thinking, ask questions, debate, perform and listen respectfully to others. Drama is used to deepen understanding, develop vocabulary and build confidence. School productions, performances and reading events further support children’s creativity and communication skills.
Spelling and handwriting
Spelling is taught systematically across the school. We use Little Wandle in Reception and Year 1, Little Wandle Spelling in Year 2 and No Nonsense Spelling from Year 3 onwards. Children learn spelling patterns, word families, common exception words and strategies for checking and improving their spelling.
Handwriting is taught through Letter-join, helping children develop accurate letter formation, fluency, stamina and pride in presentation.
Our English curriculum closely follows the EYFS Framework and the National Curriculum for English, ensuring that all children develop the skills they need to read fluently, write clearly and communicate confidently.
Our curriculum closely follows the National Curriculum for English and enables all of our children to:
● read easily, fluently and with good understanding
● develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
● acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and a knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
● appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
● write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
● use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
● are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate
Progression of Knowledge and Skills in English
EYFS Knowledge and Skills in Communication and Language
EYFS Knowledge and Skills in Literacy