English

Intent

Igniting a Passion for Reading and Writing


At Coads Green Primary School, we foster a deep love of reading while nurturing strong speaking and writing skills. Through a broad and inspiring literary curriculum, we open the door to the rich world of books, helping children form lasting reading habits.

Our goal is for every child to become a fluent reader as early as possible- enabling them to confidently engage with a wide variety of texts. Alongside reading, we develop children’s writing abilities by exposing them to high-quality literature and authors who inspire creativity and craftsmanship.

We provide our pupils with the tools, experiences, and support they need to write independently and imaginatively. With a rich vocabulary and solid writing foundations, children learn to write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences.

Implementation

Reading

We aim for every child to love reading- not just learn how to do it. That’s why we place equal emphasis on cultivating enthusiasm for books as we do on developing fluency.

Early Reading

We follow the Read Write Inc programme from Reception until children achieve fluency.

Beginning with single letter sounds, children progress to digraphs and trigraphs- blending sounds to read with confidence. Each week, children are introduced to a new story tailored to the phonics they’ve learned, ensuring success and building self-belief.

They also take home a familiar storybook, alongside a new Book Bag Book that mirrors the week's learning- offering the right balance of comfort and challenge.

Half-termly assessments help us group children based on fluency and phonics knowledge, allowing targeted support.

You can support your child by reading together regularly, practising speedy green and red words, and exploring the comprehension questions at the end of each book.

Accelerated Reader

Once fluent, children transition to Accelerated Reader (AR), which matches them with books suited to their reading level- enhancing both fluency and comprehension.

Literary Leaves

Literary Leaves enable children to engage with full texts, not just extracts, improving comprehension and fluency through rich discussion and thoughtful reading strategies.

With a diverse range of books and thematic connections, Literary Leaves fosters a love of reading and builds literary confidence. Through collaborative, analytical responses and book talk, pupils develop into critical readers- not just test-takers.

Writing

We aim to instil a love of writing, empowering children to communicate ideas clearly, creatively, and confidently.

Literacy Tree

We use The Literacy Tree- a comprehensive, book-based curriculum that aligns with national requirements.

Its carefully curated texts inspire thought and imagination. Each Writing Roots unit provides complete curriculum coverage and encourages purposeful writing for real audiences.

From Years 2–6, Literary Leaves also guide whole-class reading through rich, thematic books that deepen comprehension and link closely to the writing curriculum.

Talk Through Stories (EYFS)

In Early Years, Talk Through Stories builds vocabulary step-by-step.

In ‘Story Week’, children delve into the narrative, exploring character actions and motivations. In ‘Vocabulary Week’, they explore eight carefully chosen words from the story, learning to use them in real-life contexts.

Read Write Inc. Spelling

From Year 2 to Year 6, we use Read Write Inc. Spelling- a systematic, engaging approach to spelling.

Spelling is taught through short, focused daily lessons, building on phonics and developing automaticity. Children learn through clear routines, plenty of writing practice, and regular revision.

Fun characters from a spelling planet help bring the rules to life. The programme covers:

  • Alternative vowel and consonant spellings

  • Prefixes and suffixes

  • Homophones and silent letters

  • Plural rules and word families

  • All national curriculum spelling expectations (Years 2–6)

Assessment

Assessment at Coads Green is ongoing, meaningful, and informs every aspect of teaching and learning.

We use both formative and summative assessments to build a complete picture of each child’s progress. Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Visible Learning approaches help pupils understand what they’re learning, why it matters, and how to move forward.

Summative assessments include:

  • KS1 & KS2 SATs

  • Y1 Phonics Screening

  • EYFS Early Learning Goals

  • Reception Baseline Check

Formative assessments include:

  • Accelerated Reader screening

  • Read Write Inc. phonics assessments

  • Spelling assessments

Pupil Retrieval Practices:

  • Quizzes, mind maps, questioning

  • Learning intentions and success criteria

  • Personal targets and thinking frames

Whole School Tracking and Progress

We use iTRACK, an online pupil tracking system, to monitor progress and attainment in real time. This powerful tool ensures timely support and enables us to celebrate every child’s growth with accuracy and clarity.