English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; those pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.
A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them.
Reading and literature in particular play a key role in both our children’s cultural, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual development and their acquisition of knowledge.
At Our Lady Immaculate we aim to produce a lively and stimulating environment in which staff are committed to teaching individual, group and class activities which promote rich and appropriate speaking, listening, reading and writing experiences.
We recognise that English is a core subject within the National Curriculum and essential for educational and social progress. Mastery over language empowers children to communicate creatively and imaginatively, as well as allowing them engagement with the world at large. Therefore we aim to establish a curriculum which provides the necessary meaningful opportunities to develop competence in all language areas.
At Our Lady Immaculate we teach our English curriculum using the Literacy Counts Scheme including Ready Steady Write, Ready Steady Read Together and Ready Steady Spell. These units of work are adapted to meet the needs of our children and inspire our children though high quality literature.
Reading, writing and spelling within our school curriculum has been implemented with our phonics scheme as a foundation, please visit our phonics page for more information.
Intent
At Our Lady Immaculate School, our intent for the English curriculum is to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing while ensuring that all pupils develop the language, literacy and communication skills they need to succeed across the curriculum and in life.
We recognise English as a fundamental subject that underpins learning in all areas. From the earliest years, we prioritise the development of spoken language, early reading and writing, ensuring that pupils build secure foundations which enable them to become fluent, confident readers and writers.
Our curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, designed to meet the needs of all learners. Pupils are immersed in a rich range of high-quality texts, both classic and contemporary, which broaden their vocabulary, deepen their understanding of language and expose them to a wide range of voices and experiences. Through this, we aim to foster empathy, curiosity and enjoyment in reading.
Writing is taught as a meaningful and purposeful process. Through a carefully structured and progressive curriculum, pupils are supported to develop control, creativity and confidence in their writing, enabling them to communicate ideas clearly and effectively for a range of audiences and purposes.
By the time pupils leave Our Lady Immaculate Primary School, we intend that they are articulate speakers, fluent readers and confident writers, equipped with a love of language and the skills necessary to thrive in the next stage of their education and beyond.
Implementation
At Our Lady Immaculate, the English curriculum is implemented through a carefully sequenced, consistent and inclusive approach that ensures all pupils develop strong foundations in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Our implementation prioritises early language development, high-quality texts and systematic teaching, enabling pupils to build knowledge and skills progressively from the Early Years Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 2.
Inclusion, Assessment and Professional Practice
The English curriculum is implemented to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with additional needs. Teaching is adaptive, with appropriate scaffolding, targeted support and intervention provided to ensure equitable access to learning and high expectations for all.
Assessment is used purposefully to inform teaching, identify next steps and provide meaningful feedback. Staff are supported through ongoing professional development to ensure consistency, strong subject knowledge and high-quality delivery across the school.
Through a carefully sequenced and inclusive approach, the English curriculum at Our Lady Immaculate School is implemented effectively, ensuring pupils develop secure foundations in language, reading and writing. This enables them to become confident, fluent communicators who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
Impact
The impact of the English curriculum at Our Lady Immaculate is evident in pupils who are confident communicators, fluent readers and increasingly skilled writers, equipped with the language and literacy skills required for success across the curriculum and in everyday life.
Pupils develop strong foundations in spoken language, reading and writing from the Early Years Foundation Stage onwards. As a result, children build secure early literacy skills, transition confidently into Key Stage 1 and continue to make sustained progress throughout Key Stage 2. Pupils read widely and often, demonstrating enjoyment, fluency and a growing ability to discuss texts thoughtfully and with increasing depth.
Writing outcomes reflect a clear progression in knowledge and skills. Pupils are able to write for a range of purposes and audiences, using appropriate vocabulary, sentence structures and organisational features. Their writing shows increasing control, coherence and creativity as they move through the school, underpinned by secure spelling and transcription skills.
The consistent, structured approach to teaching English ensures that pupils are well supported to keep up with age-related expectations. Those who require additional support are identified early and receive timely intervention, enabling them to make strong progress and access the full curriculum alongside their peers.
The school’s emphasis on high-quality texts and purposeful language experiences fosters positive attitudes towards reading and writing. Pupils show pride in their work, confidence in expressing ideas and a growing sense of themselves as readers and writers.
By the time pupils leave Our Lady Immaculate, they are well prepared for the next stage of their education. They possess the literacy skills, confidence and love of language needed to engage successfully with more demanding texts, communicate effectively and continue learning independently.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The term “EAL” is used to describe a diverse group of learners who speak English as an Additional Language. In England, such learners are defined as those who have been ‘exposed to a language at home that is known or believed to be other than English’ (Department for Education, 2019).
Learners may be at any stage of developing English language proficiency, from New to English, to completely Fluent. Their proficiency provides a clear indication of the need for support.
In addition to personalised support in class, we are very fortunate to employ a very experienced and specialist Language Support Teacher to work with pupils within Key Stage 2 for whom English is not their first language.
Mrs Jackson has successfully worked with us for a number of years and is well known to our EAL (English as an Additional Language), pupils within school. She is a highly qualified EAL teacher with a wealth of experience who will works with our pupils supporting their development of oracy, reading, and in writing, specifically their grammar and punctuation skills. This additional support is crucial, enabling pupils to thrive socially, academically and linguistically.
Research tells us that reading builds on oral language competence and so learning to read requires making links between the spoken language and the writing system (Abbot, 2013). This means that reading and writing tasks should focus on words and phrases that the learner already knows in spoken English.
Individual and small group support with regular assessments ensure our EAL pupils receive the high quality interventions which they need.
English curricular links and policies
English National Curriculum
National Curriculum Vocabulary, Grammar & Punctuation Overview
National Curriculum Spelling Overview