English

English at Grewelthorpe Primary

At Grewelthorpe Primary, we believe that a strong foundation in English unlocks every child’s potential. Through a carefully balanced focus on reading, writing, spelling and oracy, we equip our pupils with the essential skills to express themselves with confidence,creativity, and clarity – both in school and beyond.

Reading: The Foundation of Lifelong Learning

Learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s education. Reading unlocks the door to the entire curriculum, fuels imagination and builds the confidence to explore and understand the world.

We are thrilled to have opened our brand-new school library in September 2025 – a vibrant, welcoming space designed to inspire a love of books in every child. Alongside this, we use the Accelerated Reader (AR) programme, which supports children in developing their reading skills at their own pace. This personalised approach ensures that every pupil is challenged appropriately and celebrated for their progress, helping them grow into independent, reflective readers.

From the very first steps in phonics to exploring a wide range of literature, we are committed to nurturing a reading culture that stays with our pupils for life.

Writing: Finding a Voice, Telling a Story

Writing is a powerful tool for self-expression, creativity and communication. From the earliest stages, we encourage our pupils to see themselves as writers – confident in their ideas, proud of their work and inspired to share their voice.

Our approach to writing nurtures independence and enthusiasm, helping children to write with purpose and clarity across a range of genres and audiences. Whether crafting a story, composing a letter, or presenting an argument, pupils learn to choose language and structure thoughtfully to suit their intent.

We celebrate writing as a craft, valuing each child’s unique style while helping them to refine their skills through meaningful feedback and reflection. Most importantly, we aim to instil a lifelong appreciation for the written word – one that empowers our pupils to communicate with confidence and creativity.

Spelling: Building on Strong Foundations

We understand that most children learn to read words more accurately than they spell them – especially in the early years. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on phonics as the foundation of both reading and spelling.

We are proud of our consistent success in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, a key milestone that reflects our commitment to early reading. Our approach beginswith the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme, which provides a systematic and engaging way for children to master phonics.

As children progress, our spelling curriculum builds directly on this foundation. Pupils continue to apply their phonics knowledge to spelling, helping them to make sense of patterns, rules, and exceptions in the English language. Weekly spelling tests are part of this journey, and in Years 5 and 6, these are tailored to each child’s individual needs to ensure targeted support and challenge.

This continuity supports confident, independent writers who can communicate clearly and accurately.

Oral Communication: Speaking with Confidence and Purpose

Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. We recognise that the quality and variety of language children hear and use is vital for building vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension.

Thanks to our small class sizes, every child has regular opportunities to speak, listen, and read aloud in a supportive environment. This daily practice helps pupils become confident communicators, comfortable expressing their ideas clearly and respectfully.

We also provide meaningful opportunities for public speaking, most notably through our annual school play, where every child in Years 5 and 6 is given a speaking role. This inclusive tradition ensures that all pupils, regardless of personality or ability, experience the pride of performing and the confidence that comes with it.

By the time they leave us, our pupils are not only articulate speakers but also attentive listeners – ready to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.