At All Saints’ CE Primary School, our intent is clear: every child will leave us literate, articulate, and confident in their use of English. We are committed to ensuring no child is left behind, closing the Literacy gap by providing a language-rich and text-rich curriculum from Nursery through to Year 6. Further to this, we aim to extend pupil outcomes to achieve significantly above National averages by the end of KS2 with particular emphasis on the number of children achieving RWM combined expected standard and EXS and GDS in writing.

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Through high-quality teaching, carefully chosen texts, and structured progression, we nurture confident communicators, enthusiastic readers, and purposeful writers. We believe that English is more than a subject; it is the gateway to learning across the curriculum and the foundation for success in later life. Children are taught to speak, listen, read, and write as discrete disciplines, whilst also recognising how each area enhances and supports the others. Our aim is that all pupils develop:

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• The ability to speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose (oracy)

• The skills to read with fluency, accuracy, and deep comprehension

• The creativity and stamina to write with precision, control, and impact

• A lifelong love of reading and writing

 

Speaking and Listening (Oracy)

 

​Oracy is central to our curriculum. From nursery rhymes and songs in EYFS to Year 6 debates and presentations, children are taught to be articulate speakers and attentive listeners. Speaking and listening is not only valued as a skill in its own right but is also used as a rehearsal tool for writing and to deepen comprehension. Structured talk, oral rehearsal, drama, and collaborative discussion underpin all learning and ensure that children can express themselves clearly in a range of contexts.

 

Writing

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​We follow the approach of the Writing Framework (2025), Writing is taught as a process, beginning with the physical foundations of mark-making and progressing to sophisticated authorial craft by Year 6. Children are taught to build their own writing toolkits as the progress though their writing journeys.

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Early Writing Development

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In EYFS, writing begins with gross and fine motor activities to strengthen muscles and posture for effective writing. English lessons in EYFS and KS1 centre around transcription skills to ensure that children master handwriting, spelling, and sentence construction before being asked to complete extended writing.

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Transcription and Composition

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Writing is taught through two strands: transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (ideas, organisation, and effect). In EYFS and KS1, transcription is a key focus. Daily opportunities ensure handwriting and spelling become automatic, reducing cognitive load so children can focus on composition. In KS2, transcription is taught discretely four times per week to secure accuracy.

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Author Craft

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Across the school, children learn to read like a writer and write like a reader. In KS1, weekly cycles of dictation, text response, planning, and independent writing develop early craft. In KS2, during Author Craft sessions, pupils are explicitly taught how authorial choices affect readers, and they evaluate texts to apply techniques with precision in their own work. We follow the RAINBOW Author Craft Journey, a systematic approach where children:

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• Read and analyse texts for purpose and impact

• Identify authorial techniques and grammar choices

• Plan, draft, edit, and publish writing for real audiences

 

Grammar, Vocabulary and Spelling

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At the start of each term, grammar knowledge is “front-loaded” so children can apply it purposefully throughout writing journeys. Vocabulary is systematically taught, rehearsed, and applied across subjects, ensuring children have a rich repertoire of words to draw upon. Spelling is taught in line with the National Curriculum, with discrete practice embedded in daily routines.

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Cross-Curricular Literacy

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English skills are embedded across the curriculum, ensuring pupils apply reading and writing in a variety of contexts. Opportunities for writing in history, geography, science, and RE consolidate subject knowledge and writing conventions.

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Inclusion and Closing the Gap

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Our CUSP approach provides both scaffold and challenge to ensure every learner makes rapid progress from their individual starting points. Interventions are responsive, ensuring that no child falls behind in reading or writing.

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Professional Development and Research

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Teachers and support staff are highly trained throughout the year to deliver the English curriculum with consistency and expertise. Our approach is responsive to high-quality educational research, ensuring our practice reflects current evidence of best impact.

 

Through a language-rich, text-rich curriculum rooted in high expectations, All Saints’ CE Primary ensures that every child becomes a fluent reader, confident writer, and articulate communicator. Our children leave us not only literate but with a love of language, a voice to express themselves, and the skills to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond.

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