Weston Village Primary SchoolEnglish (Reading and Writing)
Our Vision
At Weston Village Primary School, we believe that English is the key to unlocking every child’s potential. Through a love of reading and writing, our children learn to express themselves with confidence, clarity, and creativity. Our broad and inclusive English curriculum nurtures a lifelong love of literature and language while developing the essential skills that empower children to thrive in their learning and the wider world.
Our commitment to high expectations, oracy, and vocabulary development ensures that every child is inspired to Be the Best They Can Be, in line with our Secrets of Success ethos.
Phonics and Reading
Intent
At Weston, we are passionate about ensuring every child learns to read fluently and for pleasure. Our vision is for every child to leave us at the end of Year 6 as a confident, enthusiastic reader who enjoys a wide range of literature and has the comprehension skills to succeed in life and learning.
We aim to:
Ensure all children become fluent, confident readers.
Foster a love of reading through daily exposure to high-quality texts.
Equip children with the skills to critically analyse and discuss books.
Provide every child with the opportunity to develop a lifelong reading habit.
Implementation
Phonics and early reading are taught through Read Write Inc. (RWI), a systematic, synthetic phonics programme that ensures consistency and success. Children in Reception and Year 1—and some in Year 2—access daily RWI lessons delivered by trained staff. Groupings are fluid, and children are regularly assessed to ensure they make rapid progress.
Key features of our approach include:
Daily phonics teaching in EYFS and KS1.
Catch-up phonics in KS2 for any child needing additional support.
Comprehension skills developed through whole-class and guided reading from Year 2 onwards.
A focus on reading fluency, prosody, and vocabulary development.
Our school promotes reading for pleasure at every stage. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum, and all staff share a drive to help every child succeed. Here are some of the ways we achieve this:
High-quality first teaching, supported by effective training and clear policies.
Explicit teaching of comprehension skills through whole-class and small-group approaches, supported by initiatives like our “pawsome” reading gang and “Try New Text Thursday.”
A book-led English curriculum driven by “vehicle texts”—engaging, challenging literature that reinforces high expectations.
Language-rich environments in every classroom, from ambitious vocabulary displays to resources that support decoding skills.
Access to excellent texts, including the latest fiction, magazines, newspapers, and resources from the Education Library Service.
Reading buddies and trained phonics ambassadors who support younger pupils.
Daily reading opportunities, including shared reading, independent practice, and guided reading sessions focused on developing comprehension and critical thinking.
Effective assessment systems to identify and address gaps in reading, with tailored interventions such as additional daily reading sessions.
Celebrations of reading success, including special events like author visits and themed days.
A welcoming Key Stage 2 library, featuring themed book displays and a comfortable space for independent reading.
Children take home decodable books matched to their phonics level alongside carefully chosen banded books for shared reading. Parents are encouraged to read with their child at least four times a week to build strong reading habits.
By the end of Year 1, all children undertake the national Phonics Screening Check. Our results consistently exceed the national average, reflecting our commitment to every child learning to read.
Teachers guide children’s reading choices using detailed class and individual records to ensure their reading is challenging, varied, and enjoyable. Termly assessments allow us to monitor progress and adjust the curriculum or interventions as necessary. Every class is read to daily, allowing children to experience high-quality literature and develop a shared love of stories.
Our Curriculum in Action
EYFS (Sparrows): Daily RWI sessions, story time, and language-rich environments encourage early decoding and comprehension skills.
Key Stage 1: Children build fluency and comprehension through phonics, guided reading, and exposure to varied literature.
Lower Key Stage 2: Children develop higher-level comprehension skills in whole-class reading and independent reading activities.
Upper Key Stage 2: Children engage with complex texts, developing inference and critical analysis skills, and exploring diverse genres and authors.
Impact
Children become fluent, confident readers who enjoy books.
Termly assessments ensure children make sustained progress.
Pupil voice demonstrates enthusiasm for reading and engagement with a range of texts.
Children leave Weston with a lifelong love of reading.
Writing
Intent
At Weston, we aim to develop articulate, confident, and creative writers. Our writing curriculum empowers children to write with purpose, clarity, and flair, preparing them for the next stage in their learning and life beyond primary school.
We aim to:
Cultivate a love for writing in all its forms.
Provide meaningful, real-life contexts for writing.
Develop secure understanding of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Encourage creativity, resilience, and independence in the writing process.
Celebrate each child as an author in their own right.
Implementation
Our writing curriculum is built around high-quality, engaging texts that inspire children’s writing across a range of genres. Each unit follows a consistent sequence:
Immerse: Explore model texts through drama, discussion, and vocabulary-building.
Develop: Teach grammar, punctuation, and composition in context.
Apply: Plan, draft, edit, and publish written work, with opportunities for peer and self-assessment.
From the early stages of mark-making in EYFS to extended independent writing in UKS2, our curriculum builds progressively on key skills.
Key features of writing at Weston:
Daily writing opportunities linked to cross-curricular topics.
Explicit teaching of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Regular handwriting practice to develop fluency.
Editing and redrafting embedded in the writing process.
High-quality feedback that helps children improve their work.
Cross-curricular writing opportunities in subjects such as history, geography, and science.
Our Curriculum in Action
EYFS (Sparrows): Children develop early writing through role-play, mark-making, and sentence writing linked to storytelling and thematic learning.
Key Stage 1: Pupils write narratives, recounts, and reports, developing grammar knowledge and writing stamina.
Lower Key Stage 2: Pupils write across a range of genres, including persuasive and explanatory texts, refining their grammar and vocabulary choices.
Upper Key Stage 2: Pupils produce sophisticated writing, including balanced arguments, formal letters, and creative narratives, using cohesive devices and varied sentence structures.
Impact
Children become confident, resilient writers who take pride in their work.
Termly assessments track progress and inform next steps.
Children develop the skills to plan, write, and edit independently.
Writing outcomes show strong progress from starting points.
Pupils are well-prepared for the demands of secondary education and life beyond Weston.
Enrichment and Wider Opportunities
We provide a rich variety of experiences to enhance our English curriculum:
Visits from authors and poets.
Reading and writing competitions.
Publishing opportunities through displays and school newsletters.
Class and whole-school performances, fostering speaking and listening.
Parent workshops focused on supporting reading and writing at home.
Inclusion
At Weston, we believe every child has the right to achieve success in reading and writing. We:
Provide additional support and interventions tailored to individual needs.
Use scaffolding, visual supports, and adapted resources.
Promote diversity through text choices reflecting a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Work closely with families to support reading and writing beyond school.
Assessment
At Weston Village Primary School, assessment in English is purposeful, consistent, and supports every child to be the best they can be. We use a range of formative and summative assessments to ensure pupils are making strong progress in reading and writing and to identify where additional support or challenge is needed.
Phonics and Reading
Phonics: Children are assessed every six weeks in Read Write Inc. groups to ensure they are making rapid progress. These assessments inform groupings and targeted interventions.
Phonics Screening Check: At the end of Year 1, all children undertake the statutory Phonics Screening Check. Any child who does not meet the threshold receives additional support and retakes the assessment in Year 2.
Reading Fluency and Comprehension: Termly assessments in KS1 and KS2 measure decoding, fluency, and understanding. Teachers also use running records and benchmark assessments to ensure children are reading books that match their ability.
Whole Class and Guided Reading: Ongoing teacher assessment focuses on children’s ability to retrieve, infer, and explain texts, as well as their vocabulary development and comprehension skills.
Writing
Independent Writing Assessments: Each half-term, children produce a piece of independent writing across a range of genres. These are assessed using the Trust Writing Assessment Framework, which ensures consistent judgments across year groups and key stages.
Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (GPS): Regular assessments monitor children’s application of grammar and spelling knowledge, feeding into teaching and next steps.
Teacher Assessment: Ongoing teacher assessments inform planning and ensure children receive targeted feedback. Moderation is carried out within school and across the Trust to maintain consistency and accuracy.
Feedback and Pupil Progress
Teachers provide immediate, purposeful feedback in lessons in line with our Feedback and Marking Policy. Children are supported to respond to feedback, make improvements, and understand their next steps.
Pupil Progress Meetings each term ensure swift action is taken to support any child not on track, with interventions tailored to individual needs.
Impact
Assessments help us to celebrate children’s achievements in reading and writing and ensure they are ready for the next stage of their learning.
The outcomes of assessments are shared with parents and carers at consultation evenings and through end-of-year reports.
Pupil Voice
🗨️ “I love writing stories because I can make them exciting and different every time!” – Year 2
🗨️ “Reading helps me understand the world better and imagine new things.” – Year 4
🗨️ “I feel proud when I finish a big piece of writing and know I’ve worked hard on it.” – Year 6
Subject Leadership
Our English Lead, Mrs Whittaker, ensures our high-quality reading and writing curriculum is progressive, inclusive, and inspiring. She supports staff through regular CPD, monitors teaching and learning, and champions English across the school. Mrs Whittakerworks alongside our learning ambassadors and pupil groups to promote a love of books and celebrate children’s achievements in writing.
Want to Know More?
Take a look at our:
English Policy
Phonics and Early Reading Overview
English Writing Long-Term Plan
English Reading Long-Term Plan