English Curriculum at Leyland Methodist Schools

Intent:
At Leyland Methodist Schools, we aim to inspire our children through engaging, high-quality lessons that develop their literacy skills and instil a love for language. We believe that a strong foundation in English is essential for academic success and future opportunities. Our curriculum ensures that every child becomes confident in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, equipping them with the skills needed to excel in education and beyond. We follow the Talk 4 Writing approach, which supports our children in becoming enthusiastic, independent, and creative writers.

Reading:
At Leyland Methodist Schools, we prioritise fluency and comprehension in reading. Children engage with a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, fostering a deep understanding and appreciation of literature. Our reading programmes are designed to nurture a lifelong love for reading while also supporting children in using books as a tool for research and knowledge acquisition. Through Talk 4 Writing, reading is seamlessly integrated into the writing process, allowing children to internalise language structures and develop a strong vocabulary.

Please see our Progression of Skills Document for detailed expectations by the end of each term and year group.

Writing:
We are committed to developing children’s ability to write clearly, accurately, and coherently across a range of styles, genres, purposes, and audiences. Talk 4 Writing plays a central role in our approach, using imitation, innovation, and independent application to build confidence and skill in writing. Vocabulary development is at the heart of our curriculum, ensuring children can express their ideas effectively. Grammar and spelling are explicitly taught and applied within writing tasks, and we encourage children to take pride in their handwriting, aiming for a neat, joined script by the time they transition to secondary school.

Speaking and Listening:
From EYFS to Year 6, speaking and listening skills are nurtured to ensure our children can express themselves confidently and articulately. We embed opportunities for structured talk across the curriculum, supporting vocabulary development and encouraging children to communicate effectively in different contexts. Through Talk 4 Writing, oral storytelling and performance play a key role in developing language skills, ensuring children can articulate their thoughts with clarity and confidence. High Order Language Skills (HOLs) are promoted within all subjects, reinforcing the importance of speaking in full sentences with a clear and expressive voice.

Implementation:
Our curriculum is delivered through highly effective ‘quality first teaching’ and enriched with a range of experiences, including outdoor learning, inspirational visitors, and educational visits.

The Talk 4 Writing approach underpins our English curriculum, providing a structured framework that enables children to internalise language patterns, develop creativity, and write with confidence. This is complemented by:

• Phonics instruction through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds for early reading development.

• A whole-class reading scheme in KS2, incorporating high-quality texts.

• Content domains (Vocabulary, Infer, Predict, Explain, Retrieve, Sequence, Summarise) to enhance comprehension skills.

• A broad range of literacy activities including drama, storytelling, guided reading, shared writing, and independent extended writing sessions.

Reading and Phonics:
Our systematic phonics teaching ensures children make rapid progress in decoding words and developing reading fluency. We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds as our phonics programme, supported by fully decodable books from Harper Collins. Fluency and automaticity are key focuses from Early Years to Year 6.

In KS1 and KS2, reading skills are explicitly taught using the content domain approach, helping children to develop comprehension strategies. Our progressive whole-class reading scheme in KS2 ensures all children are challenged to expand their vocabulary and deepen their understanding of texts. Teachers supplement this with extracts from key texts to enrich learning experiences.

Impact:
Through our well-planned English curriculum and the Talk 4 Writing approach, children develop the skills, knowledge, and vocabulary to communicate effectively and creatively. As they progress through school, they become confident readers, expressive writers, and articulate speakers. Teachers use continuous assessment to track progress and inform next steps, ensuring each child reaches their full potential.

Assessment tools include:

• Little Wandle phonics assessments

• Daily ‘keep up’ and ‘rapid catch-up’ phonics interventions

• Reading assessments in KS1 and KS2

Our commitment to high-quality English teaching ensures that every child at Leyland Methodist Schools becomes a skilled and passionate communicator, fully prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.

For further information, please visit:

• Little Wandle Letters and Sounds

• Little Wandle Resources for Parents

• Talk4Writing