At St Mary Magdalene's, we believe that reading, writing and oracy are the foundations of successful learning. We aim to develop confident, enthusiastic readers and writers who can communicate effectively, think critically and develop a lifelong love of literacy.

Our English (writing) curriculum is delivered through Literacy Tree, using high-quality texts to inspire purposeful, engaging writing. Following the principles of the Writing Framework, pupils are taught through explicit modelling, oral rehearsal, sentence-level instruction and carefully sequenced opportunities to plan, draft, edit and publish their work. 

Reading is taught through Literacy Shed+ VIPERS, helping pupils develop comprehension, vocabulary and critical thinking skills through rich discussion and high-quality texts. In Key Stage 2, Reading Plus further develops reading fluency, stamina, vocabulary and understanding. Our approach reflects evidence that fluent reading, vocabulary development and purposeful talk are key to literacy success.

Handwriting is taught through the Nelson Handwriting Scheme, enabling pupils to develop neat, fluent and legible handwriting through a clear progression of skills. We recognise the strong link between spoken language and literacy development; therefore, children requiring additional support with speech, language and communication are identified early and may access targeted intervention through WellComm, helping them to develop the language foundations needed for success in reading, writing and learning across the curriculum.

We have high expectations for all pupils and provide the support and challenge needed for every child to succeed. Through a rich and ambitious English curriculum, we equip children with the knowledge, skills and confidence to flourish in education and beyond.

Our Aims

We aim for all children to:

• Read widely, fluently and for enjoyment.
• Develop a rich and ambitious vocabulary.
• Write accurately and effectively for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Use spelling, grammar and punctuation with increasing confidence.
• Speak clearly and listen thoughtfully in a variety of contexts.
• Discuss, explain and justify their ideas with confidence.
• Apply their literacy skills across the wider curriculum.
• Leave primary school as confident, capable and enthusiastic communicators.