Curriculum Intent: 

Our first priority for children, is the ability to speak in line with their peers nationally, so that they can start their journey with us towards becoming confident and effective communicators. We foster a love of reading for pleasure; children who read fluently and comprehensively who can express preferences and opinions about the texts they read. All children have access to a wide range of text types, genres and authors to enable them to make informed opinions about their favourites. Through enjoyment of high-quality texts, we expose our children to a wide range of vocabulary so that they able to decipher unfamiliar words and then use them when speaking and writing, both informally and formally. We aim to equip children with the ability to write with imagination, confidence and accuracy, for a variety of purposes and audiences, whilst developing their own individual flair. We teach our children to write with grammatical accuracy and be able to apply spelling patterns correctly, using a neat handwriting style.

Reading

We nurture a love for books and reading, as it unlocks the world.

The reading books are banded by the Bookband system, using a range of authors and companies books. Children move through the colours and receive a certificate for each level to identify what they can now do and what are their next steps.  When they achieve a level the children are awarded a book, so by the time they leave the school the children have a 20 book library to keep and treasure.

An example of a reading certificate, this is given in assembly and parents are sent the details through Marvellous Me.

There is a reading jungle containing the banded books that the children choose in the centre of the school. In addition there is an age appropriate collection of non-banded fiction and non-fiction books in each class.  

Each Key Stage has a dedicated non-fiction library which they can explore at any time to expand their interests and

There are daily opportunities to read at school in 1:1, small and large group situations.  

Each class has a daily class book time.  Younger children select from their class libraries, Years 2 to 6 have a different class novel each half term.  See the class learning curriculum for details of this half term's book.

Parent/carers are expected to listen and discuss reading with their child at least three times a week , working through certificate targets.

Handwriting

Step 1 Children learn to form the single letter in the correct order and in a consistent size.   Step 2 Children learn to add the lead in and out of the letter

Step 3 Children join pairs of letters   Step 4 Children write more and more letters together until they can write in a joined fluid script.

Children move through the stages at their own pace, but by Year 3 it is our intention that all children are able to write in joined script.

Equipment

a) Children write in pencil, modified to their need e.g. chunky pencils with grips.

b) When the children achieve their Pen Licence: Children write in a school pen, modified to their need e.g. different types to allow child to write well. Left handed pens are provided as standard.

c) When children present their work well, in fluent script, they are awarded an engraved fountain pen, in the design of their choice.  If they earn 10 green presentation points they have the right to use the term's special ink colour (Autumn Term - Orange, Spring Term - Green and Summer Term Sky Blue).  Children must keep up this high standard of green presentation points or they will return to blue ink after 3 orange presentation points and have to earn 10 new green ones all over again.

Phonics and Spelling

We are passionate about spelling at Ash Grange as this is the gateway to reading and writing.  Scroll down this page to see the programmes for different age groups.  

Children are taught to play with and understand sounds from their early years throughout primary school.  We use the revised Little Wandle scheme, which teaches children sounds, digraphs and tricky words so that they have the phonics and word recognition knowledge and skills to read and write.  

Nursery, Reception and Year 1 are following it from the beginning of their relevant year. This year Year 2 are using it for any gaps that have arisen due to loss of learning time from Covid interruptions in Year 1.  Children in higher years will only be using Little Wandle if they have a significant SEN need and it will be identified as an intervention on the IPP that the Classteacher shares with parents/carers.