At St Andrew’s, our English curriculum is designed to develop confident readers, articulate speakers and ambitious writers. We believe that language is the foundation for learning, and rich vocabulary is explicitly taught and developed across every subject, enabling children to access, understand and communicate increasingly complex ideas.

From the Early Years onwards, we place a strong emphasis on language and communication. Children develop strong speaking, listening and vocabulary skills through high-quality interactions, structured talk and carefully sequenced learning experiences. Alongside this, we prioritise the development of gross and fine motor skills to build the physical foundations for writing. As children progress, handwriting is taught systematically through Letter-join, enabling them to develop fluent, legible and increasingly automatic handwriting.

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. A carefully selected book spine of high-quality, diverse and ambitious texts exposes children to a wide range of authors, cultures, experiences and perspectives. These texts inspire a love of reading, expand knowledge and provide meaningful models for writing. Our library and reading environments reflect our passion for literature and encourage children to read widely for both pleasure and purpose.

Oracy is woven throughout school life and is underpinned by the Voice 21 Oracy Framework. Children are taught to express their ideas clearly, listen actively and engage thoughtfully in discussion. Through structured talk, presentations, debate and collaborative learning opportunities, pupils develop the confidence and skills to communicate effectively in a range of contexts.

Writing is ambitious, purposeful and embedded across the curriculum. Children write regularly for a range of audiences and purposes, applying their learning in meaningful contexts. High-quality texts, explicit vocabulary instruction and carefully sequenced writing experiences support pupils to craft increasingly sophisticated and accurate pieces of writing. Daily opportunities for sentence construction, dictation and the application of phonics ensure that spelling, transcription and writing fluency become secure. As children move through the school, they develop the stamina, accuracy and independence needed to communicate effectively through the written word.

Critical thinking is further developed through Philosophy for Children (P4C), debate and discussion. Children are encouraged to question, reason, justify their opinions and consider different perspectives, helping them become reflective, thoughtful and articulate learners.

At St Andrew’s, oracy is at the heart of teaching and learning. We believe that speaking and listening are essential skills that enable children to communicate confidently, think critically and participate fully in school and wider life.

Children will be taught both to talk and through talk, developing their ability to discuss, explain, perform, debate and express ideas for a range of purposes and audiences. They will learn to listen actively and respectfully, building on the contributions of others and demonstrating empathy and understanding.

We recognise the value of every child’s voice and celebrate the diversity of languages, accents and dialects within our school community. Through a supportive and inclusive environment, we foster confidence, self-expression and pride in individual linguistic identities.

Children will:

Oracy and vocabulary are central to our approach. Children explore, rehearse and refine ideas through structured talk, discussion, drama, storytelling and performance before they write. This enables them to develop a rich vocabulary, deepen their understanding of language choices and communicate effectively for different audiences and purposes. Opportunities for writing are woven throughout the curriculum, allowing pupils to apply their skills in meaningful contexts linked to history, geography, science, RE and the wider curriculum.

We teach spelling, grammar and punctuation explicitly and ensure these skills are applied within authentic writing. Through live marking, pupil conferencing and responsive feedback, teachers support children to reflect on, edit and improve their work in real time, helping them become increasingly independent writers. Assessment and moderation are based on the BWMAT Writing Progression and Assessment Toolkit, ensuring consistency, high expectations and a clear understanding of each child’s next steps in writing development.