Speaking and listening, reading and writing are at the heart of our curriculum at St Peter's Catholic Primary. A broad and balanced approach to the teaching of English is applied across the curriculum allowing for the consolidation of taught skills within all learning.  Children are given the opportunity to develop and enhance their literacy skills through a variety of audiences and purposes. 

Our Reading Intent:

At St Peter’s, we know that reading is the foundation to academic success and we ensure that our children are able to reach their full potential. Early reading skills are taught using the ‘Little Wandle’ programme, which is taught in a systematic yet lively and challenging way.  The teaching of reading throughout the school varies with age and cohort. Reading is taught on a whole class basis, in small groups and individually, depending on the age and ability of the children in the cohort. In Years 1-3, children have a whole class reading session daily using the Ready, Steady, Comprehension scheme. Children of all abilities develop a love of books through a wide selection of good quality literature in the classroom and the school library. This positive and inclusive reading culture continues throughout the school where all are supported to become keen, independent readers with skills they can use across the curriculum. Our expectation is that all children will foster a love of reading. Each day at 3pm, the teacher reads to the class a carefully selected text. These 15 minutes at the end of the school day are spent modelling reading with pace, fluency and expression and exposes the children to a range of texts and authors.  By the time children leave St Peter’s Primary School, they are competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres and can participate in discussions about books, including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader

Our Writing Intent:

 A balance of reading and writing is maintained and children are encouraged to write with accuracy, confidence and stamina as well as responding to many creative, cross curricular topics. During their time at St Peter’s Primary School, children develop their skills by exploring a whole range of different genres, with a focus on exploring a range of models of excellence and using these to guide the drafting and editing process. We select our own high quality texts to engage the children and carefully plan lessons to allow for a range of writing genres to be explored.  It is important to note that we not only develop a real enjoyment of writing in English lessons but in all subjects across the curriculum. We expect the highest standards of writing every time a child writes in any subject.

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We provide a rich learning environment in which all children can enjoy learning, build self-esteem and develop life-long reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.