A Message from our English Subject Leader
“At Tollerton Primary, we believe that every child has a voice worth hearing and a story worth telling. Through our English curriculum, we nurture confident communicators, enthusiastic readers and skilled writers, ensuring that children develop a lifelong love of language and learning.
We place high-quality texts at the heart of our writing curriculum through The Literacy Tree. Carefully chosen books provide meaningful contexts for learning, inspiring children to write with purpose, creativity and confidence. By immersing children in rich literature, we develop their vocabulary, deepen their understanding of language and foster a genuine enjoyment of writing.
Oracy is a vital part of learning across our school. We recognise that children need opportunities to think, discuss, rehearse and articulate their ideas before they can become successful writers. From the earliest stages in EYFS, children develop their communication and language skills through Drawing Club, storytelling, role play and purposeful talk. As they move through the school, structured discussion, collaborative learning and opportunities for performance continue to strengthen their confidence as speakers, listeners and writers.
We are committed to ensuring that children secure the foundational skills they need at every stage of their learning journey. Through careful assessment and responsive teaching, we support children to master key knowledge and skills before progressing further. This enables all children to develop confidence, achieve success and build upon strong foundations year after year.
Handwriting is taught through Letter-join from Year 2 onwards, providing a consistent approach to letter formation and presentation. This supports children in developing fluent, joined handwriting so that, by the time they leave Year 6, they can write efficiently and express their ideas with increasing independence and sophistication.
Through high-quality teaching, inspiring texts and a strong focus on communication, we aim for every child to leave our school as a confident communicator, an enthusiastic reader and a successful writer who is ready for the next stage of their education.”
– Mr Isted, English Lead
Writing
At our school, writing is taught through The Literacy Tree, a complete, book-based approach which places high-quality children’s literature at the centre of the curriculum. Carefully selected texts engage, motivate and inspire children whilst providing meaningful opportunities to develop their reading, writing, vocabulary and spoken language skills.
Through the Literacy Tree approach, children explore a wide range of rich and diverse texts. They discuss characters, themes and language choices before applying their learning to their own writing. Children are encouraged to write for a variety of purposes and audiences, developing their ability to communicate effectively whilst learning the skills and conventions of different genres.
Oracy is woven throughout the writing journey. Children are given regular opportunities to discuss ideas, rehearse sentences aloud, participate in drama activities and collaborate with their peers before writing. This helps children to clarify their thinking, develop vocabulary and gain confidence in expressing themselves.
Handwriting
From Year 2 onwards, we use Letter-join to provide a consistent approach to handwriting across the school. Children are taught correct letter formation, joins and presentation skills in a progressive sequence.
As handwriting becomes increasingly automatic and fluent, children can devote more of their attention to composing, editing and improving their writing. By the end of Year 6, our aim is for all children to write with confidence, fluency and pride in the presentation of their work.
Early Writing in Reception
In our Early Years Foundation Stage, we use Drawing Club to develop children’s communication, language and early writing skills. Drawing Club immerses children in exciting stories, traditional tales and imaginative worlds, providing meaningful reasons to talk, create and write.
Through storytelling, discussion, role play and drawing, children develop their imagination, vocabulary and understanding of narrative. The approach places a strong emphasis on oracy, enabling children to confidently communicate their ideas before recording them in increasingly independent ways.
Alongside Drawing Club, children develop the essential foundations for writing through language-rich interactions, fine motor development, early mark-making and phonics teaching. We recognise that strong communication and language skills are fundamental to becoming successful readers and writers.
Developing Strong Foundations
We believe that successful writers are built on secure foundations. Throughout the school, teachers carefully sequence learning to ensure children develop and embed the essential skills required for writing.
Children are supported to:
- Develop a rich and ambitious vocabulary.
- Build secure phonics and spelling knowledge.
- Understand sentence structure and grammar.
- Develop stamina and confidence as writers.
- Apply transcription skills accurately and fluently.
- Use talk to organise and develop their ideas.
Staff regularly assess understanding and provide timely support, ensuring that children master key skills before moving on to new learning. This approach helps every child experience success and make strong progress throughout their writing journey.