English

As from this September we are now following and delivering the new English curriculum for primary schools. Outlined below are a some of the main changes to the way we now teach English.

• Reading is at the core of the whole curriculum with a big emphasis on reading for 

  pleasure both at home and at school.

• Handwriting is expected to be fluent, legible and speedy; with joining letters starting

  in year 2.

• Spoken English is given greater emphasis, with children being taught

          debating and presentation skills.

• There is a stronger emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling (for example, the use of commas and apostrophes will be taught in KS1)

Of all the help you can give your child, the most important job you’ll probably do is helping with reading. That’s because learning to read is best taught on a one-to-one basis, so giving your child a bit of shared reading time every day will make a big difference.

Reading should be fun – that way it will be more effective. Here are some tips:

• Talk about the story and the characters as you go along.
• Let your child take over reading gradually – don’t push them into reading before they’re ready.
• Visit the library and borrow books you enjoy reading together.
• Choose subjects your child prefers - factual books or stories.

Look for words in everyday life, not just books. Read newspaper headlines, shop signs or menus in cafes