English

“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” – Martin Luther King

✅ English at Fishburn: At a Glance

At Fishburn Primary School, we want every child to become a confident communicator, a skilled writer and an enthusiastic learner who can use English to succeed across the whole curriculum.

English is at the heart of everything we do. Through high-quality texts, rich vocabulary and clear teaching routines, children learn to:

speak confidently and express ideas clearly
read fluently with understanding and enjoyment
write accurately, creatively and for a range of purposes

Our English teaching is built on consistent whole-school systems, including:
✅ daily reading and writing
✅ explicit vocabulary and language development
✅ structured teaching of spelling, grammar and punctuation
✅ high expectations for handwriting and presentation

Intent

Our English curriculum is designed to ensure every child:

develops strong speaking and listening skills
reads widely for information and pleasure
becomes a confident writer for a range of audiences and purposes
builds a rich vocabulary and secure understanding of grammar and punctuation
takes pride in handwriting and presentation

We are ambitious for all pupils and ensure that all children make strong progress, regardless of starting point.

Reading

Reading is the key to unlocking the curriculum. Children learn to:

read fluently and confidently
understand and discuss texts in depth
develop knowledge and vocabulary through reading

Reading at Fishburn includes:
✅ early reading through phonics (Little Wandle)
✅ fluency and comprehension teaching (VIPERS + Reading EARS)
✅ reading for pleasure through a rich reading spine and daily story time

For more information, please visit our Reading and Phonics pages.

Writing

Children from Reception to Year 6 receive a daily English lesson, based around engaging stimuli and high-quality texts. Writing is taught with a clear purpose, audience and genre.

English Policy - Final 25_26

Children are taught to write:

for a range of purposes and audiences
with increasing stamina and independence
with accuracy and pride

For more information, please visit our Writing page.

Spelling, Grammar & Handwriting

We teach spelling, grammar, punctuation and handwriting through consistent whole-school approaches.

✅ Sentence Dig (daily SPaG starter) builds accuracy and confidence in grammar skills.

✅ SPaG Shed supports discrete SPaG teaching and practice.

✅ LetterJoin is used for daily handwriting sessions and presentation expectations across school.

Assessment & Impact

Teachers assess English through:

live feedback and questioning
work in books and reading journals
independent writing outcomes
regular checks of fluency, comprehension and key skills

We measure impact through:

pupil progress over time
high standards of presentation
confident speaking, reading and writing
pupils using vocabulary and grammar skills independently

✅ English at Home: Parent & Carer FAQs

How can I support my child at home?

You can support your child by:

reading regularly together
talking about stories and new vocabulary
practising weekly spellings
encouraging neat handwriting and pride in presentation

Why is English so important?

English supports success across the whole curriculum. Reading and writing help children to learn, communicate, and achieve in every subject.

✅ Useful Downloads (Add Your Links Below)

English Policy
Reading Policy
Writing expectations / progression
Reading at home guidance
Spelling and handwriting support

Fishburn Primary School

Fishburn Primary School
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