At St Michael’s CE Primary School, our English curriculum is designed to ensure every child becomes an articulate communicator and skilled writer. We believe strong literacy skills are the foundation for success across the curriculum and beyond school life.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced from EYFS to Year 6 so that pupils develop progressively through:

• speaking and listening
• vocabulary development
• sentence construction
• grammar and composition
• purposeful and independent writing.

Vocabulary development sits at the heart of our curriculum. We explicitly teach and revisit vocabulary across all subjects so pupils can understand increasingly complex texts, communicate confidently and write with precision.

We are passionate about developing pupils’ oracy skills through discussion, storytelling, partner talk, debate and structured oral rehearsal. These opportunities help pupils become confident communicators who can explain ideas clearly and thoughtfully.

How English is Taught at St Michael’s

Writing is taught daily through a structured and carefully sequenced approach which develops speaking, vocabulary and writing together.

Our approach includes:

• high-quality texts that inspire writing
• explicit teaching of vocabulary, grammar and sentence construction
• oral rehearsal and discussion before writing
• structured writing sequences including planning, modelling, drafting, editing and publishing
• shared and guided writing
• vocabulary-rich classrooms and purposeful talk
• adaptive teaching and scaffolding to ensure all pupils access ambitious learning.

Speaking and Listening

Oracy plays a central role in learning at St Michael’s. Pupils regularly participate in:

• discussion
• storytelling
• drama
• debate
• partner talk
• structured speaking activities.

These experiences develop vocabulary, reasoning and communication skills which support success across the curriculum.

Writing

Writing at St Michael’s is inspired by high-quality texts and meaningful purposes for writing.

Pupils follow a structured writing process which includes:

• immersion in high-quality texts
• vocabulary and grammar development
• oral rehearsal
• modelling and shared writing
• planning and drafting
• editing and improving
• publishing final pieces.

Across the school, pupils learn to write for a wide range of purposes and audiences including narratives, reports, persuasive writing, poetry and balanced arguments.

High expectations are maintained for presentation, handwriting and vocabulary so pupils develop confidence and independence as writers.

Handwriting

Handwriting is taught regularly across the school to ensure pupils develop a fluent, legible and efficient handwriting style.

Correct letter formation is taught from the Early Years and pupils gradually develop joined handwriting as they move through the school. Strong transcription skills help reduce cognitive load and support pupils to write more confidently and independently.

Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils at St Michael’s are:

• confident communicators who can explain and discuss ideas clearly
• skilled writers who can write for a range of purposes and audiences
• able to use ambitious vocabulary effectively
• increasingly independent learners
• equipped with the literacy skills needed for secondary school and beyond.

Our English Curriculum Journey

Our curriculum journey shows how pupils develop from early language learners in EYFS to confident writers and communicators by the end of Year 6.

Our Writing Journey

Our writing journey shows how pupils develop from early mark-making and oral storytelling in EYFS to confident, independent writers by the end of Year 6.

Through carefully sequenced teaching, pupils learn to:

• understand purpose and audience
• develop vocabulary and grammar
• observe expert modelling
• rehearse ideas orally
• apply learning independently
• edit and improve their writing confidently.