English
English at Beverley St Nicholas Primary School
At Beverley St Nicholas Primary School, we believe that a high‑quality English curriculum is essential for every child. Our approach nurtures a love of reading, writing and discussion, while ensuring that all pupils develop the strong literacy skills they need for future success.
We aim to inspire an appreciation of our rich and varied literary heritage and encourage children to read widely and often. Every class visits our school library weekly, giving pupils regular opportunities to explore new authors, discover different genres and develop positive reading habits. We also promote reading for pleasure through our wristband colour‑scheme, which motivates children to read regularly and celebrate their progress. Each year, we welcome a visiting author to school, giving pupils the chance to meet a real writer, ask questions and be inspired by the world of books.
Writing is taught through the Talk for Writing approach, which enables children to internalise language structures, build confidence and write creatively for a range of audiences and purposes. Alongside this, pupils take part in dedicated handwriting and spelling sessions to ensure they develop fluent, legible handwriting and secure knowledge of spelling patterns and rules.
We want children to take pride in their writing, express themselves clearly and accurately, and adapt their style to suit different contexts. As part of this, pupils are taught how to edit and improve their work independently, developing the reflective habits of successful writers.
Reading is further strengthened through daily whole‑class reading sessions, where children explore high‑quality texts, develop comprehension skills and engage in rich discussion. For pupils who are no longer on the phonics programme but are not yet fluent readers, we provide targeted support through Little Wandle Fluency to help them build confidence, accuracy and pace.
To support learning at home, pupils use the Doodle app for English homework, helping them consolidate key skills in an engaging and personalised way.
We are committed to ensuring that every child develops a secure knowledge‑base in English, following a clear pathway of progression from the Early Years to Year 6. A strong foundation in literacy is vital to accessing the wider curriculum and equips our pupils with the tools they need to participate fully and confidently in society.
