English at Blenheim
At Blenheim, we believe that English is at the heart of our curriculum and the key to unlocking every child’s potential. We know that the ability to read, write and communicate with confidence opens doors not only to success in all subjects, but also to a lifetime of enjoyment, curiosity and opportunity. Because of this, we place the highest priority on the teaching of English and set ambitious expectations for every child. We want our pupils to leave us not only with strong language skills, but also with a deep love of literature and the confidence to express themselves clearly and creatively.
Reading, writing and oracy are taught as closely connected disciplines. We believe that children become better writers through reading widely and become better readers through understanding how texts are crafted. Through carefully chosen texts, rich discussion and explicit teaching, we encourage children to read as writers and write as readers, drawing upon the vocabulary, knowledge, language structures and ideas they encounter through literature.
Our curriculum is built around high-quality texts that inspire curiosity, develop vocabulary and expose pupils to a wide range of authors, cultures, experiences and perspectives. From EYFS to Year 6, children encounter stories, novels, poetry, picture books, biographies and non-fiction texts that both challenge and engage them, ensuring they encounter diverse voices and experiences and see both themselves and others reflected in the books they read.
Reading
At Blenheim, we believe that reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn. We are committed to developing fluent, confident readers who not only understand what they read but also develop a genuine love of books and reading.
Children begin their reading journey in EYFS and Year 1 through our systematic phonics programme, Read Write Inc., where they learn to decode, blend and read with increasing accuracy and fluency. In Year 2, as pupils become more secure readers, they move into transitional comprehension lessons which bridge the gap between phonics and the Key Stage 2 reading curriculum. From there, pupils progress to whole-class reading lessons built around high-quality texts and rich discussion.
From Year 3 onwards, fluency remains a key focus and is explicitly taught through regular fluency practice and short reading activities. Alongside this, pupils are taught to use 'think aloud' strategies which help them to read for meaning rather than simply reading the words on the page. Children learn to monitor their understanding as they read by making connections, noticing when meaning breaks down, asking questions, making predictions and reflecting on their thinking. By making these invisible reading processes visible, pupils become increasingly thoughtful, independent and reflective readers.
Throughout the school, children develop fluency, vocabulary and comprehension through carefully sequenced lessons and a diverse range of high-quality texts. We encourage pupils to think deeply about what they read, discuss their ideas with others and make meaningful connections between texts and the wider world.
Our reading curriculum is built around carefully chosen text spines that expose children to a wide range of authors, genres, cultures, experiences and perspectives. Through these texts, pupils develop knowledge, empathy, curiosity and an appreciation of high-quality literature.
To find out more about the progression of reading skills across the school, please see our Reading Progression Document and Reading Text Spines below.
Blenheim Reading Skills Progression
Year 5/6 Reading Spine Cycle 1
Year 5/6 Reading Spine Cycle 2
Writing
At Blenheim, we use clear, carefully sequenced processes to develop writing from EYFS to Year 6, recognising the importance of building strong foundations from the very start of a child's journey through school.
In EYFS and Year 1, children develop the foundations for writing through rich language experiences, storytelling, discussion and purposeful opportunities to write independently. As their confidence grows, they begin to apply their developing knowledge of language, phonics and sentence construction to communicate their ideas effectively.
From Year 2 onwards, pupils follow a structured writing process which provides opportunities to immerse themselves in high-quality texts, develop the knowledge and vocabulary needed for the task, and then craft, plan, write, edit and publish their work.
Writing is a complex process. Our approach is designed to reduce cognitive load by breaking writing into manageable stages and providing the support, modelling and practice children need to become successful, independent writers.
Through carefully chosen texts and explicit teaching, pupils develop the confidence and skills needed to write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences. Links are often made between the texts studied in reading and writing lessons, helping children to read as writers and write as readers.
To find out more about the progression of writing skills across the school, please see our Writing Progression Document which includes our Long Term Writing Plan.
Blenheim Writing Skills Progression & Long term Plan
Poetry
Poetry plays an important role in our English curriculum and is enjoyed throughout the school. Children read, perform, discuss, learn and write a wide range of poems, developing vocabulary, fluency, confidence and a love of language. They explore different poetic forms and consider how poets make deliberate choices with language, structure and rhythm to entertain, express emotions, tell stories and explore important themes.
Class Poets
This year, every class at Blenheim is named after a poet, helping to give poetry a high profile beyond individual English lessons. Throughout the year, children learn about their class poet and enjoy their work, while also encountering many other poets across the curriculum.
Our class poets introduce children to poetry that reflects a rich variety of themes, cultures, experiences and perspectives, helping them to discover new voices and broaden their understanding of the world through poetry.
Meet the poets inspiring our classes this year:
- Nursery — Jane Newberry
- Reception (SCR/BJ) — Julia Donaldson
- Reception (SJ) — Giles Andreae
- 1SE — Simon Mole
- 1SC — James Carter
- 2PH — Joseph Coelho
- 2RS — Debjani Chatterjee
- 3AH — Michael Rosen
- 3ML — Eloise Greenfield
- 4SD — Valerie Bloom
- 4GC — Joshua Seigal
- 5LB — Janet Wong
- 5AS — John Agard
- 6KB — Matt Goodfellow
- 6LB — Benjamin Zephaniah
Oracy
At Blenheim, we recognise that talk is fundamental to learning. Through speaking and listening, children develop their understanding, clarify their thinking, build relationships and communicate their ideas with confidence.
Oracy is woven throughout the curriculum and is not seen as a separate subject. From EYFS to Year 6, pupils are given regular opportunities to discuss, debate, explain, present, perform and collaborate. Through these experiences, children learn how to listen attentively, build on the ideas of others and express their own thoughts clearly and respectfully.
Our progressive oracy curriculum ensures that pupils develop increasingly sophisticated speaking and listening skills as they move through the school. By explicitly teaching these skills and providing meaningful opportunities to practise them, we help children become confident, articulate and thoughtful communicators who are well prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond.
To find out more about how oracy skills develop from EYFS to Year 6, please see our Oracy Progression Document below.
Statutory Curriculum Documents
Our English curriculum for Y1-6 is carefully designed to meet and exceed the expectations of the National Curriculum for English. Further information can be found in the National Curriculum programmes of study and the statutory English appendices below.
National curriculum in England: English programmes of study - GOV.UK
The national curriculum in England - English Appendix 1: Spelling
The national curriculum in England - English - Appendix 2: Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation
For further information about the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and Early Learning Goals, please see the EYFS Statutory Framework below.
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK