English
Children at Otterhampton are encouraged to communicate and express themselves through speaking, listening, reading and writing. We follow the National Curriculum 2014.
Speaking and Listening
Talking is fundamental to a pupil’s learning. Pupils are encouraged and helped to talk clearly, confidently and with expression in order to communicate ideas and feelings. Similarly, and just as importantly, is the need to listen to others and respond appropriately. All children are provided with opportunities in all areas of the curriculum to develop skills in speaking and listening.
Reading
At Otterhampton Primary School reading as an integral part of the school curriculum impacting on all learning. We value the importance of being a confident reader and work hard to develop children’s reading skills. We want to develop children’s enjoyment and enthusiasm to read a wide range of different books and to be able to talk about books and authors.
Reading is a skill taught through planned, systematic phonics lessons and developed through; one-to-one reading with an adult, shared reading, guided reading sessions and independent reading. In Early Years we use a range of reading schemes including Oxford Reading Tree, as well as real books. As their reading develops, usually in Key Stage One, children are encouraged to read from a wider range of fiction and non-fiction choosing their own books initially from within a carefully banded system leading on to the enjoyment of all kinds of books, the appreciation of different genres and the ability to access information independently from our well stocked school library.
Children take books home daily and are encouraged to read with parents and other family members. All children in school are encouraged to join the library and the Library Bus visits school on a regular basis.
Reading & Writing Intent Statements
Reading at OPS
Writing
We use 'Talk for Writing' at OPS. This approach, developed by Pie Corbett supported by Julia Strong, is powerful because 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.
The Talk for Writing approach enables children to read and write independently for a variety of audiences and purposes within different subjects. A key feature is that children 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.
Handwriting, spelling, punctuation and grammar all play an important part in this process.
Writing and Spelling
Phonics and Spelling
The phonics programme taught at Otterhampton School is 'Sounds-Write.
Please click on the link below for more information.
English Progression of skills documents