Why We Study English
English has a pre-eminent place in education and society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them.
Through reading in particular, pupils will have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. Being able to learn about the experiences of others through reading, and expressing their own feelings and emotions through writing can give pupils a satisfying sense of fulfilment and at a more basic level, enjoyment.
All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised. At Broughton Primary Academy, we are fully committed to ensuring that all pupils can partake fully in society. In brief,
‘…Without English, nothing. And without good English, nothing very well.’
Anne Fine.
How We Teach English
At Broughton Primary School, we use the English Programme of Study as a basis for our planning. English is taught through a combination of whole class teaching, as well as smaller, differentiated focus groups and where necessary, on a one-to-one basis. As a school, we use some commercial programmes, e.g. Read Write Inc. Phonics & Spelling; Jane Considine's The Write Stuff, as a basis for our work to ensure consistency and quality of teaching.
In Phonics, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics. This is a structured and systematic programme designed to teach early reading. It focuses on developing phonemic awareness, blending sounds to read words, and segmenting words to spell. Children learn through daily lessons that combine speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The programme uses consistent routines and lively teaching to build fluency and comprehension. It supports all learners, including those who need extra help, and ensures rapid progress in decoding and spelling, laying a strong foundation for literacy success.
In Spelling, we use Read Write Inc. Get Spelling which is a structured spelling programme designed for Years 2-6 pupils. It builds on phonetic knowledge and focuses on spelling rules, patterns, and exceptions. The programme uses short, daily lessons that include interactive activities, word investigations, and strategies for remembering tricky spellings. Pupils learn to proofread, edit, and apply their spelling knowledge in context. It promotes independence and confidence, helping children become accurate and thoughtful spellers through consistent practice and engaging tasks.
For English Writing, The Write Stuff by Jane Considine is a structured approach to teaching writing that combines creativity with clear progression. It uses the 'Writing Rainbow' to guide pupils through vocabulary, grammar, and techniques, and promotes high-quality sentence construction. Lessons follow a 'sentence stacking' model, where children build writing piece by piece with teacher modelling and shared ideas. The approach encourages deep thinking, rich language use, and independence, while ensuring pupils understand the purpose and audience of their writing. Most blocks of learning are based around a high-quality, age-appropriate text that further enriches the pupils. It supports all learners to become confident, imaginative, and skilled writers. English Grammar is taught in context within the Writing lessons, as well as through specific Grammar lessons. These Grammar lessons follow a clear progressional path, gradually developing the pupils' knowledge and understanding grammatical terms and structures.
In Foundation and Year 1 Reading is developed through our Phonics programme, as well as through small group work in guided reading. Reading in Years 2–6 focuses on developing vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through structured daily sessions. Vocabulary is explicitly taught using morphology, etymology, and contextual meaning. Fluency is built through teacher modelling, echo reading, partner reading, and performance, following a range of research driven strategies. Comprehension is taught using the 'I do, We do, You do' gradual release model, gradually increasing pupil independence. Key comprehension skills are broken down and developed through a clear and precise progression. Lessons are adapted to meet learning needs and promote confident, skilled readers. Reading Plus is also used alongside the Comprehension lesson in order to further develop and motivate our pupils reading though adaptive, personalised instruction. It adjusts in real time to each learner’s needs and provides insights for teachers—helping students make rapid progress and become confident, independent readers.
Handwriting is taught following Nelson Handwriting which is a structured approach from Reception to Year 6 that introduces joined handwriting in progressive stages. It supports fine motor development, letter formation and joining techniques. The programme builds fluency, legibility, and personal style through consistent practice.
Teachers and senior leaders use regular assessment to inform planning, thus ensuring that pupils' misconceptions and current learning needs are tackled promptly. Assessment is also used regularly to analyse the effectiveness of strategies and to enable leaders to discern what works best for our children.
What Is Special About English In Our School
Broughton Primary Academy is committed to instilling in children a genuine love of reading. Children are exposed to a wealth of high quality literature and allowed to engage regularly with complete texts and novels rather than just extracts. As a school, we use Reading Plus with children in Years 2-6. This exposes children to a wide range of engaging, age-appropriate texts, rapidly develops their comprehension skills and systematically develops their reading fluency.
At Broughton, all aspects of English are taught systematically and in an engaging way. Our approaches empower children to be competent, critical readers and enthusiastic, skilled writers.