Hillyfield Primary Academy

Reading Intent
As a school, reading is a top priority: our aim is for all children to become fluent and confident readers who can apply their knowledge and experience to a range of texts. Each half term, whole-class novels are carefully selected so children are immersed in texts which reflect a range of cultures and perspectives. We understand that, through the books we teach, children can see themselves reflected; these books may also be windows into other cultures and worlds. We achieve this through Whole Class Guided Reading lessons: from year 2, each child receives a copy of their class novel to immerse them fully in the story over a half term. As well as fiction, non-fiction and poetry are vital for ensuring we provide a broad and balanced reading diet. Over the course of a half term, children read a variety of non-fiction and poems which are linked to their class novel.

In addition to Whole Class Guided Reading, all children are given daily protected time to read widely and for pleasure to build their capacity for creative and critical thinking, expand their knowledge base, and develop their ability to respond with empathy and compassion to others. It is our aim for pupils to become lifelong readers who understand the value of reading and seek to do so outside of school. We want all of our pupils to have the knowledge and communication skills to actively and enthusiastically engage in discussions about the books they are currently reading, have read in the past and want to read in the future.

Writing Intent

By the time children leave Hillyfield, we want them to be able to articulate themselves purposefully through their writing. EYFS writing focuses mainly on narrative and retelling of stories, and ensuring that children are given the time and space to talk about and create their own stories in daily storytelling sessions and writing workshops.  Children are encouraged to be  creative and to experiment through mark-making to record their thinking in a variety of ways.  Phonics, spelling and handwriting skills are also taught formally at this stage through activities  planned in line with the whole school schemes of work and Early Development Outcomes. In Key Stages 1 and 2, a wide range of genres are taught throughout the year that are carefully linked to writing purposes. Planned sequentially within a writing purpose per half term across the school, all writing opportunities and objectives are clearly mapped out in the year group’s long term planning. We provide daily opportunities for all pupils to write for a range of purposes and audiences which are studied over the course of a unit. 

At Hillyfield, our pupils and teachers are writers and our classrooms are a writing community where everyone is able to discuss their own writing and how it feels to be a writer. Children’s own writing identity is integral to our curriculum: all children are supported to develop their own writer’s identity and to see the value in their own, and others, writing. Writing should be an enjoyable process which provides children with lifelong communication skills.  Through whole class writing for pleasure projects in KS2, children are given the opportunity to explore a genre in depth and craft their own piece of writing based on their own funds of knowledge, what they are most interested in and what is most important to them.

English in EYFS
Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage experience English through speaking and listening in both formal and informal situations and for different purposes. EYFS writing focuses mainly on narrative and retelling of stories, and ensuring that children are given the time and space to talk about and create their own stories in daily storytelling sessions and writing workshops.  They experience reading through a range of phonetic texts, simple texts and books and are encouraged to write for a variety of purposes through play activities. Children are encouraged to be  creative and to experiment through mark-making to record their thinking in a variety of ways.  Phonics, spelling and handwriting skills are also taught formally at this stage through activities  planned in line with the whole school schemes of work and Early Development Outcomes.