English, Phonics and Reading
“When I read great literature, great drama, speeches or sermons, I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.” James Earl Jones
Intent
At Forestdale Primary school, we aim to develop high standards of literacy and language by developing their love of literature through widespread reading across the curriculum and at home and also equipping them with a strong command of the written and spoken word.
Our aim as a school is to ensure our children:
- appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
- write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
- use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.
English Challenges
At Forestdale Primary School we present key skills in English
for each year group as a ‘Superhero Challenge’. 
There is a punctuation target, a sentence target and a spelling target for each term in each year group. These challenges are used by teachers to personalise planning and assessment, and for pupils and parents to know a child’s next steps.
Each Superhero challenge relates to the expectations of each year group on a term by term basis according to the national curriculum.
The Superhero English challenges are discussed and explained in greater depth to parents during the Working Together mornings and at parents’ evening consultations.
Writing
We carefully plan fun and engaging writing opportunities for our children across the curriculum, which are predominantly topic linked. 
From writing information booklets about toys in year one to theatre reviews in year 6, we aim to promote high standards of language and literacy.
Our children are exposed to a wide range of vocabulary, the correct use of grammar and the conventions for reading, writing and spoken language. We focus on how to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. We also adopt the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach, which is powerful because it enables children to imitate the language they need for a particular topic orally, through drama and role play activities, before reading and analysing it and then writing their final piece.
We have high expectations in terms of handwriting and presentation and our children are expected to write in a clear, cursive handwriting script. Forming letters carefully and correctly enables children to write with fluidity. Please click here for further guidance on handwriting at Forestdale and resources (PDF)
We also believe that by teaching our children word processing, publishing and research skills using computers, we prepare them for the future in a fast changing world of technology.
Reading
At Forestdale, we believe reading is a priority and underpins all learning. Research shows that pupils who develop a love of reading perform significantly better due to their increased access to vocabulary, understanding of different genres and styles as well as developing a pace to their learning which ensures that they are able to grasp and understand concepts.
We aim to foster in all our children a love of books so that they become readers for life. Children are taught to read by a variety of methods including phonics, learning key words and using meaning. Their progress is carefully monitored and a wide range of books (fiction and non-fiction) make up our guided and individual reading schemes.
All pupils are provided with many opportunities to develop their reading, including the following:
- Whole class readalong
- Research from information books related to the topic
- Research from Chromebooks relating to the topic
- Engagement in the Reading for Pleasure books
- Weekly reading comprehension sessions
- Guided reading session with the teacher
- Independent reading
- Outdoor reading books
- Using the school library
Readalong
Each term, year groups have a whole-class reading book – a ‘readalong’. The ‘readalong’ supports the topic for the term and often writing will focus around the text. All children have a copy in front of them to follow the text as the teacher reads. Please click here for a list of the readalong books.
Reading for Pleasure Challenge
We are excited to be running the Reading for Pleasure challenge in which children are encouraged to read ten new reading books before the end of this academic year. We want every child to be a successful reader and to read for pleasure. Please support your child but supporting them in reading the books can so that they can complete this challenge. Children in the younger year groups are not expected to read these books independently; they are books that can be shared together.
When children have finished one of the ten books, they can discuss it with their class teacher, who then crosses it off on a tracking tick sheet. When the children have read all ten books, they receive a Reading for Pleasure certificate.
Reading at Home
At Forestdale there is an expectation that children read at home at least five times a week. Parents and carers are asked to comment or sign daily in their child’s contact books so that they receive an achievement stamper and house point from their teacher. Older children are encouraged to write their own comment.
Year 2
Children in Year 2 will be given banded colour reading scheme book. Children will have previously been taught the sounds that they encounter in those books. These books include both fiction and non-fiction. Children in Reception and Year 1 will be given a new books each Friday to read at home 4 times during the week to develop confidence and fluency. Year 2 will move to chapter books and change their books 3 times a week when they are fluent and able to apply all the phonemes. Additional texts will also be available on the new Oxford Owl platform. To access this please click here and sign in using your child’s login - usernamexxx.306 and password. Texts will be accessible linked to the phonemes taught each term.
Children can also take home books of their own choosing from the book corner. These books that are not yet decodable for the children will be a sharing book. The books are to read with an adult, helping us to instil a love of reading from the very beginning of their reading journey. These could be read together with your child reading the words they are able to decode or could be read to your child.
Book Band Expectations
Pink 1
- Locate title
- Open front cover
- Turn pages appropriately
- Understand that left page comes before right
- Understand that we read print from left to right
- Match spoken word to printed word (one-to-one correspondence)
- Locate familiar words and use them to check own reading
- Use the meaning of text
- Use language patterns (syntax)
- Predict the story line and some vocabulary
Red 2
- Locate and recall title
- Have secure control of one-to-one matching
- Use known words to check and confirm reading
- Start to read more rhythmically or use phrasing while maintaining track of print
- Repeat words, phrases or sentences to check, confirm or modify own reading
- Predict from meaning, syntax and print to solve new words
Yellow 3
- Follow print with eyes, finger-pointing only at points of difficulty
- Take more note of punctuation to support the use of grammar and oral language rhythms
- Cross-check all sources of information more quickly while reading
- Note familiar words and letter clusters and use these to get to unknown words e.g. look > took
- Search for information in print to predict, confirm or attempt new words while reading
- Notice relationships between one text and another
- Predict in more detail
Blue 4
- Move through text attending to meaning, print and sentence structure flexibly
- Self-correct more rapidly on-the-run
- Re-read to enhance phrasing and clarify precise meaning
- Solve new words using print information along with attention to meaning
- Use analogy with known vocabulary to solve new words
- Manage a greater variety of text genre
- Discuss content of the text in a manner which indicates precise understanding
Green 5
- Read fluently with attention to punctuation.
- Solve new words using print detail while attending to meaning and syntax.
- Track visually additional lines of print without difficulty.
- Manage effectively a growing variety of texts, including non-fiction.
- Discuss and interpret character and plot more fully.
- Use contents page and glossary in nonfiction books, and locate information.
Orange 6
- Get started on fiction after briefer introductions and without relying so heavily on illustrations.
- Examine non-fiction layout and use the contents page to select which sections of a book to read.
- Read longer phrases and more complex sentences.
- Blend phonemes in unfamiliar words more fluently, cross checking with meaning and syntax.
- Attend to a greater range of punctuation and text layout.
- Search for and use familiar syllables within words to read longer words.
- Infer meaning from the text.
- Check information in text with illustrations, particularly in non-fiction, and comment on content.
- Begin to use appropriate terminology when discussing different types of text.
Turquoise 7
- Extract meaning from the text while reading with less dependence on illustrations.
- Approach different genres with increasing flexibility.
- Use punctuation and text layout to read with a greater range of expression and control.
- Sustain reading through longer sentence structures and paragraphs.
- Tackle a higher ratio of more complex words using known vocabulary, phonic knowledge and syllables.
- Find a way around alphabetically ordered texts such as indexes, glossaries and dictionaries.
Purple 8
- Look through a variety of fiction and non-fiction with growing independence to predict content and layout and story development.
- Read silently or quietly at a more rapid pace, taking note of punctuation and using it to keep track of longer sentences.
- Solve most unfamiliar words on the run by blending long vowel phonemes, recognising and using them in longer and more complex words.
- Adapt to fiction, non-fiction and poetic language with growing flexibility.
- Take more conscious account of literacy effects used by fiction writers, and the formal language of different types of non-fiction.
- Begin to make more conscious use of reading to extend speaking and writing vocabulary and syntax.
Gold 9
- Look through a variety of books with growing independence to predict content and story development, and make full use of non-fiction layout.
- Read silently or quietly at a more rapid pace, taking note of punctuation and using it to keep track of longer sentences.
- Solve most unfamiliar words on the run by blending long vowel phonemes, recognising and using them in longer and more complex words.
- Adapt to fiction, non-fiction and poetic language with growing flexibility.
- Take more conscious account of literacy effects used by writers.
- Make more conscious use of reading to extend speaking and writing vocabulary and syntax.
- Locate and interpret information in non-fiction.
White 10
- Read silently most of the time.
- Sustain interest in longer text, returning to it easily after a break.
- Use text more fully as a reference and as a model.
- Search for and find information in texts more flexibly.
- Notice the spelling of unfamiliar words and relate to known words.
- Show increased awareness of vocabulary and precise meaning.
- Express reasoned opinions about what is read, and compare texts.
- Offer and discuss interpretations of text.
Juniors
Children read either book band books or chapter books. We have invested heavily in providing a wealth of genres and subjects for children to choose from.
Reading at Home
At Forestdale there is an expectation that children read at home at least three times a week. If children record their reading in their contact books they will receive an achievement stamper from their teacher.
Children should aim to read in out of school hours for:
Reception and Year 1→10 minutes- Year 2→15 minutes
- Year 3→20 minutes
- Year 4→25 minutes
- Year 5→30 minutes
- Year 6→35 minutes
Reading with Your Child
Children need to know that we read for meaning therefore these questions will ensure that they get the utmost from the book in terms of understanding and enjoyment. You may wish to record your child’s responses to the questions in their contact book. The questions get progressively harder from box 1-3.
| Reading Questions Box 1 |
Reading Questions Box 2 |
Reading Questions Box 3 |
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Forestory
Forestory takes place each week. This is where all the children in each key stage gather in the hall to listen to a story being read aloud by a teacher, taking their imagination away to exciting and engaging fictional places. This allows children to hear good examples of reading aloud and to develop an enthusiasm for reading books themselves.
Guided Reading
We value guided reading as a means of improving children’s abilities to read for purpose and meaning. All children read as part of a group, usually outside the literacy lesson. The questions that adults ask during guided reading cover the range of question types from simple recall of information to reading ‘between the lines’. Children are given the opportunity to discuss these questions as part of the guided reading group.
Phonics
At Forestdale, we follow Essential Letters and Sounds. This phonics programme supports children in making quick progress to become fluent and confident readers. This rigorous teaching and learning programme will ensure children are able to read and apply all the common phonemes by the end of Year 1 so that they can confidently and independently access the curriculum at Year 2 and beyond.
To best support us in teaching your child how to read, we ask that you:
- read the same decodable text provided by the school 4 times across the week.
- spend 10 minutes a day reading with your child; this will hugely support them in their journey to becoming an independent reader
- watch the videos demonstrating the correct pronunciation of sounds:
Phase 2 Sounds
Phase 3 Sounds
We will now be changing children’s books once a week on Fridays; this allows your child to re-read each text several times building their confidence and fluency. This is especially important as they begin to learn that the sounds within our language can be spelt in different ways. We recognise that only taking one reading scheme book home a week is a significant change from our previous practice and so we have ensured that additional, specific books will be available via a new set of Oxford Owl decodable online books (which again will be assigned based on the phonemes your child has learnt in school) which will allow children access to other titles. To access this please go to the school website's apps page and select Oxford Owl eBook Library and sign in using your child’s login - usernamexxx.306 and password (can be found at the front of your child’s contact book). A school code is required and is available from the school office.
Spellings
Each year group from Y1-Y6 has a particular set of spelling patterns and rules which they must be taught. Alongside these rules, each year group also has a set of exception words which the children will be expected to know by heart (please see the tables below).
Spellings are sent home on Friday and tested the following Friday.
There is also a list of common exception words in a box at the bottom of the weekly spelling (highlighted in yellow on the image below). These words will run across a half term. Your child will need to work on these spellings each week in manageable chunks and will be expected to spell these words by heart by the end of that half term.
Some of the words on these word lists will be covered through weekly spelling lessons and will be tested each Friday, but because of the sheer amount of words that your child needs to learn, we would much appreciate it if you could support your child by helping them to learn the words on their word list.
Children will also be set either 5, 8 or 10 spellings. The focus of the new spelling curriculum is not the quantity of spellings your child receives but their understanding of the rules and patterns of words. Can they apply the same rules to new words? If you feel your child is able to spell the words set for that week then please use the home learning time to explore other words where the same patterns and the rules apply. Further research into patterns and rules, including finding definitions of words, would prove beneficial. Understanding the history of words and relationships between them will help with spelling in general.
Year 1 Common Exception Words
| Y1 Autumn 1 | Y1 Autumn 2 | Y1 Spring 1 | Y1 Spring 2 | Y1 Summer 1 | Y1 Summer 2 |
| the a do to today of said says |
are were was is his has I |
you your they be he me she we |
no go so by my here there |
where love come some one once ask |
friend school put push pull full house our |
Year 2 Common Exception Words
| Y2 Autumn 1 | Y2 Autumn 2 | Y2 Spring 1 | Y2 Spring 2 | Y2 Summer 1 | Y2 Summer 2 |
| door floor poor because find kind mind behind child children* |
most only both old could should would wild climb |
even great break steak cold gold hold told every everybody |
pretty beautiful after fast last past clothes busy people water money |
father class grass pass plant path bath hour move prove improve |
sure sugar eye who whole any many again half Mr Mrs parents Christmas |
Year 3 Common Exception Words
| Y3 Autumn 1 | Y3 Autumn 2 | Y3 Spring 1 | Y3 Spring 2 | Y3 Summer 1 | Y3 Summer 2 |
| accident(ally) actual(ly) address answer appear arrive believe bicycle |
breath breathe build busy/business calendar caught centre century |
certain circle complete consider continue decide describe different |
difficult disappear early earth eight/eighth enough exercise experience |
through various weight woman/women occasion(ally) special notice |
experiment extreme famous favourite February forward(s) fruit grammar |
Year 4 Common Exception Words
| Y4 Autumn 1 | Y4 Autumn 2 | Y4 Spring 1 | Y4 Spring 2 | Y4 Summer 1 | Y4 Summer 2 |
| often opposite ordinary particular peculiar perhaps popular position |
possess possessions possible potatoes pressure probably promise purpose quarter minute |
question recent regular reign remember sentence separate material medicine |
increase important interest island knowledge learn length library mention |
straight strange strength suppose surprise therefore though although thought |
group guard guide heard heart height history imagine naughty natural |
Year 5 Common Exception Words
| Y5 Autumn 1 | Y5 Autumn 2 | Y5 Spring 1 | Y5 Spring 2 | Y5 Summer 1 | Y5 Summer 2 |
| accommodate accompany according achieve aggressive amateur ancient apparent |
appreciate attached available average awkward bargain bruise category |
cemetery committee communicate community competition conscience* conscious* controversy |
pronunciation queue recognise recommend relevant restaurant rhyme rhythm sacrifice |
convenience correspond criticise (critic + ise) curiosity definite desperate determined develop |
pronunciation queue recognise recommend relevant restaurant rhyme rhythm sacrifice |
Year 6 Common Exception Words
| Y6 Autumn 1 | Y6 Autumn 2 | Y6 Spring 1 | Y6 Spring 2 | Y6 Summer 1 | Y6 Summer 2 |
| secretary shoulder signature sincere(ly) soldier stomach sufficient suggest explanation |
symbol system temperature thorough twelfth variety vegetable vehicle yacht |
opportunity parliament persuade physical prejudice privilege profession programme |
marvellous mischievous muscle necessary neighbour nuisance occupy occur |
identity immediate(ly) individual interfere interrupt language leisure lightning |
familiar foreign forty frequently government guarantee harass hindrance |
Library
We are very fortunate to have a well-resourced and efficiently run library at Forestdale. The borrowing section of our library is electronically logged and children can scan out their own books. We also have an extensive reference section of the library which children can use for independent research during or outside lesson time. Our librarians help children to select books, and foster a love of books within children at the school.
Drama
Drama activities are often used at the beginning of an English topic to promote high-quality thinking, discussion and
written outcomes. Some drama or talk activities in particular can help to prepare children for writing certain text
types.
Information and Further Support
On a termly basis, parents are strongly encouraged to attend our Working Together mornings. These morning sessions provide parents with information and guidance on what their child is learning in class and the strategies they can use in order to help them at home. Parents are invited into the classrooms to work with their child, with the support and guidance of the class teacher.
All children receive quality first literacy teaching on a daily basis and activities are differentiated accordingly. In addition, where identified pupils are considered to require targeted support to enable them to work towards age appropriate objectives, intervention programmes will be implemented. Some children are able to have the benefit of 1:1 sessions delivered by our Intensive Reading teachers. Please click here for further details on advice on who and how to make contact with the school regarding any concerns or needs of your child.