English
At Marion Richardson we aim to deliver the English curriculum in a way that is meaningful, engaging and meets the needs of all of our children. As a core subject that lays the foundations for accessing the wider curriculum, it is our vision that every child acquires the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to be both successful readers and writers. We aim to ensure that children at Marion Richardson are exposed to an oracy rich curriculum, embedded through the systematic teaching of spoken and written language, which develop their competence and confidence ins spoken language and listening skills. Reading is placed at the heart of the school’s curriculum and all staff are committed to this, prioritising the acquisition of early language and reading skills. We are determined that every pupil will learn to read, regardless of their background, needs or abilities through the explicit teaching of reading skills. We aim to develop children’s understanding and appreciation of a wide range of fiction, nonfiction and poetry texts which cover a range of experiences and perspectives. We enable children to write in an appropriate range of styles and genres and to different audiences, developing stamina and skill over time.
Essential characteristics of readers:
- Excellent phonic knowledge and skills.
- Fluency and accuracy in reading across a wide range of contexts throughout the curriculum.
- Knowledge of an extensive and rich vocabulary.
- An excellent comprehension of texts.
- The motivation to read for both study and for pleasure.
- Extensive knowledge through having read a rich and varied range of texts.
Please click on the link below to find out more about the school's approach to the teaching of reading and phonics
Reading and Phonics at Marion Richardson
Essential characteristics of writers:
- The ability to write fluently and with interesting detail on a number of topics throughout the curriculum.
- A vivid imagination which makes readers engage with and enjoy their writing.
- A highly developed vocabulary and an excellent knowledge of writing techniques to extend details or description.
- Well-organised and structured writing, which includes a variety of sentence structures.
- Excellent transcription skills that ensure writing is well presented and punctuated, spelled correctly and neat.
- A love of writing and an appreciation of its educational, cultural and entertainment values.
Essential characteristics of excellent communicators:
- An exceptional talent for listening attentively so as to understand what is being said.
- A rich and varied vocabulary that give clarity and interest to conversations.
- Clear speech that can be easily understood by a range of audiences.
- An excellent grasp of the rules used in English conversation, such as tenses and the grammatical structure of sentences.
- A highly developed ability to tell stories that capture the interest and imagination of the audience.
- A delight in initiating and joining in conversations.
- Respect for others when communicating, even when views differ.
English Curriculum Overview 2024-2025
English Rivers
The English curriculum follows the objectives set out in the National Curriculum.
In English, the knowledge of how to teach reading is regularly refreshed so staff in all year groups can confidently support children on their journey to become confident readers. In EYFS & KS1 daily phonics lessons take place in addition to guided and shared reading lessons. In KS2, daily reading lessons take place.
The development of writing is carefully planned incorporating a range of techniques that allow children to develop their understanding of the writing process. From the very earliest stages of writing development, we promote talk to aid writing. The English Curriculum is based on high- quality texts which cover a range of genres. Units are planned with a clear written outcome and a clear audience and purpose. Grammar is taught, in most instances, within the English lesson, so that the students are able to see how the written language works in a context they can engage with. While the format of individual lessons may vary, all teachers model the intended outcome for the children. Across the course of a unit children are given the opportunity to:
- Read the key text as a reader and as a writer
- Explore and discuss models of writing linked to their unit outcome
- Generate and discuss ideas for their writing
- Use a range of resources such as working walls & vocabulary mats
- Plan, discuss and draft their writing
- Edit and improve their writing
The school follows the Spelling Shed scheme in discrete lessons from Spring term in Y2 to secure and embed approaches to spelling.
Learning Journeys
- Learning Journeys detail the overall outcomes for each unit.
- Learning Journeys detail the small steps that children will take to achieve the overall outcomes for each unit.
- They show how the unit builds on prior learning
- They show what children will learn in the future linked to what they are learning now.
- Learning Journeys are available on the school website – on the year group page or on the subject page
- They include key vocabulary for the unit
- They include details of the key content to be covered
If you would like printed copies of any journeys please let us know.
Year 1
Autumn Term
On Sudden Hill, Benji Davies - Familiar Settings
Thank You Omu, Oge Mora - Familiar Settings
In Every House on Every Street, Jess Hitchman - Familiar Settings
Spring Term
The Gingerbread Man - Traditional tales
The Gingerbread Man - Instructions
The Queen’s Hat, Steve Anthony - Familiar settings
Recount of familiar events
Caterpillar Cake - Poetry
Summer Term
We’re Going To Find a Monster, Malorie Blackman - Familiar Settings
Seasons Come, Seasons Go Tree - Non-chronological report
A Great Big Cuddle – Childhood, Michael Rosen - Poems on a theme
Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs - Adventure
One Day on our Blue Planet: In the Savannah, Ella Bailey - Non-Chronological Report
Zim, Zam, Zoom, James Carter
Year 2
Autumn Term
Billy and the Beast, Nadia Shireen - Stories by a significant author
The Boy who Cried Wolf, Aesop’s Fables - Fables or other animal stories
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion, Alex. T. Smith - Traditional tales with a twist
Recount of familiar events
The Santa Trap, Jonathan Emmett
Spring Term
The Great Fire of London: Anniversary Edition of the Great Fire of 1666 - Non-Chronological Report
Recount of familiar events
Not that Pet, Smriti Halls/There’s a Lion in the Cornflakes, Michelle Robinson - Stories with a Familiar Setting
Monster: An Owners Guide, Johnathan Emmet / Myth Match Miniature: A Fantastical Flipbook of Extraordinary Beasts Good Wives and Warriors - Non Chronological Report
Summer Term
Superhero Joes Does NOT Do Cuddles, Michael Catchpool/How to Save a Superhero - Adventure
Dear Teacher, Amy Husband - Letter Writing
Poems to Perform, Julia Donaldson - Performance Poetry
The Dragon Machine Helen Ward/Dragon Post Emma Yarlett - Imaginary Worlds
The Big Book of the UK: Facts, folklore and fascinations from around the United Kingdom, Imogen Russell Williams - Persuasive Leaflet
Poetry Pie, Roger McGough - Poems on Theme
Year 3
Autumn Term
A Caribbean Dozen – The Forest & Jelly Boots. Smelly Boots, Michael Rosen Poems based on a theme
Stone Age Boy - Historical Fiction
Spring Term
Leon and the Place In Between, Angela MacAllister - Fantasy
linked to Fantasy unit - Non chronological report
Marv & the Mega Robot, Alex Falase-Koya - Adventure
River Story, Meredith Hooper - Explanation
Summer Term
The Spell Thief, Tom Percival - Playscripts
Captain Scott: Journey to the South Pole - Recount – diaries
Where Ocean Meets Sky, The Fan Brothers - Significant Author
Everything Volcano - Non-chronological report
Classic Poems for Children- Crocodile - Performance poetry
Year 4
Autumn Term
Marcy and the Riddle of the Sphinx - Fantasy, Including a recount
The Village the Vanished - Stories from other cultures
News Report – Rosa Parks, Black History Month - Recount
Dancing in the Rain, John Lyons - Poetry
Spring Term
A Child’s Introduction to Greek Mythology, Heather Alexander (Theseus and the Minotaur) - Myths & Legends
Anglo Saxons (Explore!), Jane Bingham - Non- chronological Report
The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore - Fantasy
Wild Animals – An Interview with a Tiger - Non Chron
Where Zebras Go (Part 2), Sue Hardy Dawson - Calligrams and Shape poems
Summer Term
Rumaysa, Radiya Hafiza/ Rapunzel - Rachel Isadora - Traditional Tales with a Twist
NGK Everything Viking- How should we remember the Vikings?, National Geographic Kids
Kennings/Cinquains - Poems with a Structure
Epic Adventures, Sam Sedgewick - Information booklet with a collection of non-fiction text types
Mr Penguin and the lost Treasure, Alex.T. Smith - Adventure
My Name is Not Refugee, Kate Milner - Recount- diary
Year 5
Autumn Term
Arabian Nights, Usborne - Stories from other cultures
Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterley - Biography
The Adventures of Odysseus, Hugh Lipton - Myths & Legends
Forces and Parachutes - Explanation Text
Haikus - Poems with a structure
Spring Term
The Barnabus Project, The Fan Brothers - Adventure
The Cities Book/ The Travel Book, Lonely Planet - Magazine Article
Future Hero: Race to Fire Mountain, Remi Blackwood - Adventure
City of Stolen Magic, Ahmed Pathak, Nazneen - Fantasy
Tyger, Tyger - Classic Narrative Poetry
Summer Term
War Horse, Michael Morpurgo - Historical Fiction/ Significant Author
War Poetry - Poems with figurative language
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis - Older literature
Guardians of the Planet: How to be an Eco-Hero, Clive Gifford - Persuasion
The Lady of Shalott - Classic Narrative Poetry
Year 6
Autumn Term
Pig Heart Boy + Other Stories - Contemporary Fiction
Spring Term
Titanium - Narrative
Ned’s Circus of Marvels, Justin Fisher - Narrative – setting description
Ned’s Circus of Marvels, Justin Fisher - Narrative -alternative chapter
Journey, Aaron Becker - Narrative - Dialogue
Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling - Letters - Howlers
Summer Term
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K Rowling - Non-chronological report
The Magnifying Glass - Poetry
The Circulatory System- Explanation
The Dreadful Menace - Poetry
Darwin’s Dragons - Recount & Narrative