Intent

At Elham Church of England Primary School, our English curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils become fluent readers, confident writers and articulate speakers who can communicate effectively and thoughtfully in a wide range of contexts. Rooted in our Christian values of faith, community, achievement and empathy, English provides children with both the academic tools and moral understanding needed to engage meaningfully with the world around them.

Our intent is that pupils develop a deep and secure understanding of language, underpinned by regular exposure to high-quality literature. Through a carefully sequenced, book-based curriculum, we aim to foster a love of reading, build rich vocabulary and background knowledge, and enable children to write with clarity, accuracy and purpose. We recognise reading as the cornerstone of the curriculum and believe that strong literacy is fundamental to pupils’ success across all subjects and throughout life.

The curriculum is ambitious and inclusive. It is designed to ensure that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND, make strong progress from their starting points and are supported to meet the expectations of the National Curriculum. In line with DfE guidance and EEF research, we prioritise explicit teaching of foundational skills alongside opportunities for pupils to apply their learning independently, ensuring they are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Implementation

English is taught through a coherent whole-school approach using the Literacy Tree scheme of work for both reading and writing. This book-based pedagogy places high-quality texts at the heart of learning, allowing pupils to become immersed in rich language, meaningful themes and purposeful outcomes. Carefully chosen texts reflect a diverse range of voices, experiences and contexts, supporting pupils to develop empathy, cultural awareness and moral understanding alongside academic skills.

Reading instruction is systematic and explicit. Pupils are taught to decode accurately, read fluently and comprehend increasingly complex texts through a balance of modelled reading, shared discussion and independent practice. Teachers place a strong emphasis on vocabulary development and background knowledge, recognising their central role in reading comprehension. Opportunities for structured talk, questioning and reflection ensure that pupils can articulate understanding and engage critically with what they read.

Writing is taught through well-sequenced units that move from immersion and analysis to modelling, guided practice and independent application. Teachers explicitly teach transcription skills, including handwriting and spelling, alongside sentence construction and text-level composition. Grammar and punctuation are taught in context so that pupils understand how language choices shape meaning and effect. This ensures that pupils are not only technically accurate but also able to write creatively and purposefully.

Across English lessons, talk is deliberately planned and used to support thinking, rehearsal and collaboration. Teachers model language and thought processes clearly, provide high-quality feedback, and adapt teaching responsively to address misconceptions. Assessment is used to inform next steps, with timely intervention and additional practice provided where needed, without narrowing access to the full curriculum.

Impact

The impact of our English curriculum is that pupils leave Elham as confident, fluent readers who can access and enjoy a wide range of texts, and as capable writers who can communicate ideas clearly and effectively across the curriculum. Pupils demonstrate secure knowledge of spelling, grammar and punctuation and are able to apply these skills independently and consistently in their writing.

Outcomes reflect strong progress from pupils’ starting points, with pupils meeting national expectations and being well prepared for the next stage of their education. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND make good progress because teaching is explicit, structured and responsive, and because high expectations are maintained for all.

Beyond measurable outcomes, pupils develop the confidence to express themselves, the empathy to understand others, and the perseverance to achieve. English supports pupils in living out the school’s values: engaging thoughtfully with texts, communicating respectfully within their community, striving for excellence, and reflecting with faith and compassion.

The impact of the curriculum is evaluated through ongoing formative assessment, summative assessment, work scrutiny, pupil voice, reading conferences and moderation, ensuring that the curriculum remains coherent, inclusive and ambitious.