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English
At Byron Primary School, we believe that reading, writing and communication are the foundations of learning and open doors to future success. Our aim is to develop enthusiastic readers, confident communicators and skilled writers who are equipped to thrive across the curriculum and beyond.
We provide children with opportunities to learn key English skills through engaging, high-quality texts that inspire curiosity, discussion and creativity. Carefully chosen books sit at the heart of our English curriculum, exposing pupils to a rich range of authors, genres, themes and perspectives. Through reading, children develop their understanding of language, vocabulary and the world around them whilst experiencing the pleasure and enjoyment that books can bring.
We believe that reading and writing are closely connected and that high-quality texts provide the foundation for both. Through exposure to ambitious vocabulary, diverse authors and engaging themes, pupils develop an understanding of how effective writing is crafted and learn to apply these techniques in their own work. Reading widely helps children develop knowledge, imagination and an appreciation of language, providing strong models for their own writing.
Writing is taught through meaningful contexts that motivate and inspire children. Pupils are given opportunities to write for a range of audiences and purposes, developing their ability to inform, entertain, explain, persuade and reflect. They learn to write with increasing accuracy, fluency and creativity whilst developing a secure understanding of grammar, punctuation, spelling and composition. We encourage children to see themselves as authors, taking pride in their work through editing, improving, publishing and celebrating their achievements.
As many of our pupils speak English as an additional language, we place a strong emphasis on language development, vocabulary acquisition and oracy. We actively promote discussion and encourage children to articulate their ideas, explain their thinking and respond thoughtfully to the views of others. Through structured talk, rich classroom discussion and high-quality language experiences, pupils develop the confidence and vocabulary needed to become successful communicators.
Children are immersed in language-rich learning experiences through books, poetry, film clips, images, drama, visitors, educational visits and real-life contexts. These experiences broaden knowledge, deepen understanding and help bring learning to life while providing meaningful reasons to read, write and communicate.
We place great importance on presentation, pride and craftsmanship. Children are encouraged to take ownership of their work, edit thoughtfully and publish pieces of writing that reflect their very best efforts. This helps them develop confidence, resilience and a genuine sense of achievement.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Byron as a fluent reader, a confident communicator and a successful writer, equipped with the language, knowledge and skills needed to flourish in the next stage of their education and in the wider world.
Reading
Shared Reading at Byron Primary
At Byron Primary School, our shared reading curriculum is designed to develop fluent, confident and thoughtful readers who enjoy reading for both pleasure and purpose. We believe that every child should have access to high-quality literature and opportunities to discuss, question and explore texts in depth.
From Year 2 to Year 6, shared reading is taught through Literacy Counts' Ready Steady Read Together programme. This carefully sequenced curriculum is built around a diverse collection of high-quality texts that expose children to a wide range of authors, genres, themes and perspectives. Through these texts, pupils develop their vocabulary, comprehension, background knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
Shared reading lessons provide all children, regardless of their reading ability, with access to challenging and engaging texts. Through expert teacher modelling, pupils are taught how skilled readers use expression, pace, intonation and prosody to bring meaning to a text. Children learn to think deeply about what they read, make connections, infer meaning, justify opinions and explain how authors create impact.
As many of our pupils speak English as an additional language, shared reading also plays a significant role in developing language, vocabulary and oracy. Rich discussion is at the heart of every lesson. Pupils are encouraged to articulate their ideas, respond to the views of others, explain their thinking and use ambitious vocabulary when discussing texts. These opportunities help children become confident communicators as well as successful readers.
Our shared reading curriculum incorporates discussion, drama, questioning, partner talk and vocabulary exploration to deepen understanding and promote engagement. Through these approaches, children not only develop strong comprehension skills but also learn to appreciate language, authorial choices and the power of storytelling.
Ready Steady Read Together supports our wider commitment to reading for pleasure. By exposing pupils to high-quality literature and creating regular opportunities to talk about books, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of reading. We want every child to leave Byron as a fluent reader who reads widely, thinks critically and can confidently engage with a diverse range of texts.
Ultimately, our shared reading curriculum ensures that all pupils develop the knowledge, vocabulary and comprehension skills needed to succeed across the curriculum while fostering a genuine enjoyment of reading that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Year-2-Reading.pdfYear-3-Reading.pdfYear-4-Reading.pdfYear-5-Reading.pdfYear-6-Reading.pdf
Writing
Writing at Byron Primary
At Byron Primry School our aim is to develop confident, independent and successful writers who can communicate effectively for a wide range of audiences and purposes.
Our writing curriculum is delivered through Literacy Counts' Ready Steady Write, a carefully sequenced, research-informed programme that places high-quality literature at the heart of learning. Through engaging and vocabulary-rich texts, children are immersed in language, ideas and experiences that inspire purposeful and meaningful writing.
Ready Steady Write enables pupils to develop a secure understanding of how effective writing is crafted whilst building the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to write successfully across the curriculum. Through carefully planned units, children explore a range of genres and text types, learning how authors use language, structure and organisation to achieve particular effects before applying these techniques in their own writing.
We want all children, regardless of need, starting point or background, to achieve success as writers. Learning is carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils develop strong foundations in transcription, grammar, punctuation and spelling whilst also becoming increasingly fluent, creative and ambitious in their composition.
As many of our pupils speak English as an additional language, vocabulary development and oracy are central to our writing curriculum. Children are encouraged to discuss, rehearse and refine their ideas before writing. Through structured talk, drama, vocabulary exploration and oral rehearsal, pupils develop the language and confidence needed to express themselves effectively.
Writing lessons incorporate a range of evidence-informed teaching approaches, including:
- Explicit vocabulary instruction
- Modelled writing
- Shared writing
- Sentence-level work
- Guided practise
- Independent application
- Editing and redrafting
These approaches help children understand the writing process and develop the skills of successful authors.
Children write for meaningful audiences and purposes, producing a wide range of outcomes including narratives, explanations, reports, persuasive texts, letters, poetry and discussion writing. Opportunities to write are also planned across the wider curriculum, enabling pupils to apply and strengthen their skills in real and purposeful contexts.
We place great importance on presentation, pride and craftsmanship. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on, edit and improve their work so that they develop resilience, accuracy and independence as writers.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Byron as a fluent, confident and enthusiastic writer who can communicate their ideas effectively, draw upon a rich vocabulary and use writing as a powerful tool for learning, expression and success in the next stage of their education and beyond.
Spelling
Spelling at Byron Primary
At Byron Primary School, we believe that accurate spelling is an essential skill that supports children to become confident readers, writers and communicators. Our aim is for every child to develop the knowledge, understanding and strategies needed to spell accurately and apply their learning independently across the curriculum.
Our spelling curriculum is delivered through Literacy Counts' Ready Steady Spell, a carefully sequenced, research-informed programme that helps children become fluent and confident spellers. The curriculum is designed to build secure spelling knowledge over time, ensuring that pupils develop a strong understanding of spelling patterns, rules, morphology and etymology whilst applying this knowledge effectively in their everyday writing.
Ready Steady Spell provides a clear progression of learning, enabling children to build on prior knowledge and make connections between previously taught spelling patterns and new concepts. Through regular retrieval practice and systematic teaching, pupils move spelling knowledge from short-term memory to long-term memory, helping them to recall and apply spelling patterns with increasing accuracy and confidence.
As many of our pupils speak English as an additional language, vocabulary development is an important part of our spelling curriculum. Children are encouraged to explore the meaning, structure and origins of words, helping them develop a deeper understanding of language while extending their vocabulary.
Spelling is taught through engaging lessons that include investigation, pattern spotting, discussion, rehearsal and application. Children are given regular opportunities to practise and apply spelling patterns within purposeful writing so that spelling becomes an integrated part of the writing process rather than an isolated skill.
Through Ready Steady Spell, pupils develop:
- Secure knowledge of spelling patterns and conventions
- Understanding of prefixes, suffixes and root words
- Confidence in applying spelling knowledge independently
- Increased vocabulary and language awareness
- Strategies for spelling unfamiliar words
- Accuracy and fluency in their writing
Regular review, assessment and retrieval activities ensure that previously taught learning is revisited and embedded over time. This helps children develop automaticity and confidence, enabling them to focus on communicating their ideas effectively as writers.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Byron as a confident and accurate speller who can draw upon a secure understanding of language to support successful writing across the curriculum and in the next stage of their education.
Promoting a Love of Reading
Promoting a Love of Reading at Byron Primary School
At Byron Primary School, we believe that reading should be one of life's great pleasures. Our aim is not simply to teach children how to read, but to create enthusiastic, lifelong readers who choose to read for enjoyment, curiosity and learning.
We work hard to create a culture where books, stories and reading are valued and celebrated throughout the school. From the moment children enter Byron, they are surrounded by high-quality literature, engaging reading environments and adults who model a genuine love of reading.
Our School Library
Our well-stocked school library is at the heart of our reading provision. It provides children with access to a wide range of high-quality fiction, non-fiction, poetry, graphic novels, information books and diverse texts that reflect both our school community and the wider world.
Children visit the library regularly, developing their independence as readers by exploring new authors, choosing books that interest them and talking about their reading with others. The library provides a welcoming space where children can discover new interests, deepen existing passions and develop positive reading habits.
Classroom Libraries
Every classroom has its own carefully curated reading area containing a wide selection of high-quality texts linked to pupils' interests, current learning and recommended authors.
These inviting spaces encourage children to browse, discuss books, share recommendations and enjoy reading throughout the school day.
Reading for Pleasure
We believe that children become successful readers by reading regularly and enjoying what they read. Dedicated reading for pleasure sessions provide opportunities for pupils to:
- Read independently
- Share books with friends
- Listen to stories read aloud
- Explore new authors and genres
- Discuss and recommend books
- Develop their own reading preferences
We want children to view reading as something they choose to do, not simply something they do at school.
Authors, Events and Enrichment
Reading is brought to life through a range of enrichment opportunities including:
- Visiting authors
- World Book Day celebrations
- Book fairs
- Reading competitions and challenges
- Library events
These experiences help children see reading as exciting, inspirational and relevant to their lives.
Our Aim
Ultimately, we want every child to leave Byron Primary School as a fluent, confident and enthusiastic reader. We want our pupils to experience the joy of becoming lost in a story, the excitement of discovering new ideas and the confidence that reading gives them to succeed in the next stage of their education and throughout their lives.