English

Curriculum Overview Key Stage 1 & 2

 

Year 1

Phonics 

The school uses the Letters and Sounds DfE approved scheme. This is a systematic scheme and uses synthetic phonics.

Reading

  • Match graphemes for all phonemes
  • Read accurately by blending sounds 
  • Read words with very common suffixes
  • Read contractions & understand purpose
  • Read phonics books aloud
  • Link reading to own experiences
  • Join in with predictable phrases
  • Discuss significance of title & events
  • Make simple predictions

Writing

  • Name letters of the alphabet
  • Spell very common ‘exception’ words
  • Spell days of the week
  • Use very common prefixes & suffixes
  • Form lower case letters correctly
  • Form capital letters & digits
  • Compose sentences orally before writing
  • Read own writing to peers or teachers

Grammar

  • Leave spaces between words
  • Begin to use basic punctuation: . ? !
  • Use capital letters for proper nouns.
  • Use common plural & verb suffixes

Speaking & Listening

  • Listen & respond appropriately
  • Ask relevant questions
  • Maintain attention & participate

 

Year 2

Reading

  • Develop phonics until decoding secure
  • Read common suffixes
  • Read & re-read phonic-appropriate books
  • Read common ‘exception’ words
  • Discuss & express views about fiction, non-fiction & poetry
  • Become familiar with & retell stories
  • Ask & answer questions; make predictions
  • Begin to make inferences

Writing

  • Spell by segmenting into phonemes
  • Learn to spell common ‘exception’ words
  • Spell using common suffixes, etc.
  • Use appropriate size letters & spaces
  • Develop positive attitude & stamina for writing
  • Begin to plan ideas for writing
  • Record ideas sentence-by-sentence
  • Make simple additions & changes after proof-reading

Grammar

  • Use . ! ? , and ’
  • Use simple conjunctions
  • Begin to expand noun phrases
  • Use some features of standard English

Speaking & Listening

  • Articulate & Justify answers
  • Initiate & respond to comments
  • Use spoken language to develop understanding

 

Year 3

Reading

  • Use knowledge to read ‘exception’ words
  • Read range of fiction & non-fiction
  • Use dictionaries to check meaning
  • Prepare poems & plays to perform
  • Check own understanding of reading
  • Draw inferences & make predictions
  • Retrieve & record information from non-fiction books
  • Discuss reading with others

Writing

  • Use prefixes & suffixes in spelling
  • Use dictionary to confirm spellings
  • Write simple dictated sentences
  • Use handwriting joins appropriately
  • Plan to write based on familiar forms
  • Rehearse sentences orally for writing
  • Use varied rich vocabulary
  • Create simple settings & plot
  • Assess effectiveness of own and others’ writing

Grammar

  • Use range of conjunctions
  • Use perfect tense
  • Use range of nouns & pronouns
  • Use time connectives
  • Introduce speech punctuation
  • Know language of clauses

Speaking & Listening

  • Give structured descriptions
  • Participate activity in conversation
  • Consider & evaluate different viewpoints

 

Year 4

Reading

  • Secure decoding of unfamiliar words
  • Read for a range of purposes
  • Retell some stories orally
  • Discuss words & phrases that capture the imagination
  • Identify themes & conventions
  • Retrieve & record information
  • Make inferences & justify predictions
  • Recognise a variety of forms of poetry
  • Identify & summarise ideas

Writing

  • Correctly spell common homophones
  • Increase regularity of handwriting
  • Plan writing based on familiar forms
  • Organise writing into paragraphs
  • Use simple organisational devices
  • Proof-read for spelling & punctuation errors
  • Evaluate own and others’ writing
  • Read own writing aloud

Grammar

  • Use wider range of conjunctions
  • Use perfect tense appropriately
  • Select pronouns and nouns for clarity
  • Use & punctuate direct speech
  • Use commas after front adverbials

Speaking & Listening

  • Articulate & justify opinions
  • Speak audibly in Standard English
  • Gain, maintain & monitor interest of listeners

 

Year 5

Reading

  • Apply knowledge of morphology & etymology when reading new words
  • Reading & discuss a broad range of genres & texts
  • Identifying & discussing themes
  • Make recommendations to others
  • Learn poetry by heart
  • Draw inference & make predictions
  • Discuss authors’ use of language
  • Retrieve & present information from non-fiction texts.
  • Formal presentations & debates

Writing

  • Secure spelling, inc. homophones, prefixes, silent letters, etc.
  • Use a thesaurus
  • Legible, fluent handwriting
  • Plan writing to suit audience & purpose
  • Develop character, setting and atmosphere in narrative
  • Use organisational & presentational features
  • Use consistent appropriate tense
  • Proof-reading
  • Perform own compositions

Grammar

  • Use expanded noun phrases
  • Use modal & passive verbs
  • Use relative clauses
  • Use commas for clauses
  • Use brackets, dashes & commas for parenthesis

Speaking & Listening

  • Give well-structured explanations
  • Command of Standard English
  • Consider & evaluate different viewpoints
  • Use appropriate register

 

Year 6

Reading

  • Read a broad range of genres
  • Recommend books to others
  • Make comparisons within/across books
  • Support inferences with evidence
  • Summarising key points from texts
  • Identify how language, structure, etc. contribute to meaning
  • Discuss use of language, inc. figurative
  • Discuss & explain reading, providing reasoned justifications for views

Writing

  • Use knowledge of morphology & etymology in spelling
  • Develop legible personal handwriting style
  • Plan writing to suit audience & purpose; use models of writing
  • Develop character & setting in narrative
  • Select grammar & vocabulary for effect
  • Use a wide range of cohesive devices
  • Ensure grammatical consistency

Grammar

  • Use appropriate register/ style
  • Use the passive voice for purpose
  • Use features to convey & clarify meaning
  • Use full punctuation
  • Use language of subject/object

Speaking & Listening

  • Use questions to build knowledge
  • Articulate arguments & opinions
  • Use spoken language to speculate, hypothesise & explore
  • Use appropriate register & language

Learn and teach the grammar and punctuation concepts required for Key Stage 2 in a fun and engaging way.

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