English
At Cleadon Church of England Academy, our English work starts with the children in EYFS. We have an ambition curriculum to immerse children in high quality reading and language. Our reading spine and core texts include a diverse selection of genres from literary classics by Shakespeare to modern authors. Our poetry spine introduces children to a vast range of poetic genres/devices with a breadth of poems and poets from classical to modern that deal with a range of themes.
Children develop their language skills from our phonics scheme and English curriculum. Please see the relevant pages to find out more.
Phonics and Early Reading (click here)
English Subject Overview (click here)
English in the Early Years & Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum
We always review our provision to ensure that we are giving the children the best possible learning experiences. This involves reviewing the curriculum, reading and poetry spines and pedagogy on a regular basis.
Current developments:
We are working to implement a revised Oracy Curriculum to support the children's language development across all subjects in the curriculum. Teachers are incorporating a wide range of techniques and strategies to promote positive dialogue and discussion in all subject areas.
You can help to support your child's oracy at home.
7 ways to promote oracy at home
Try these techniques to help your child become a more confident communicator, in school and at home.
1 Read aloud to your child
‘Reading aloud to your child, well beyond the age they can read for themselves, combines the benefits of talking, listening and storytelling within one activity that helps children build their vocabulary, learn to express their thoughts, and understand the structure of language,’ says Billie.
2 Record a video diary
Many kids aspire to being vloggers or YouTube stars, so encourage them to start a video diary, either to chart their everyday life or to record special occasions like birthdays and holidays. For safety’s sake, keep these within the family rather than broadcasting them online.
3 Play word games
Games like 20 Questions, Guess Who? and I Spy are great for helping children use descriptive language and think critically about what they’re saying.
4 Talk about their day
Ask your child, ‘What did you do today?’ and they’ll often claim they can’t remember, so find different ways to talk about what they’ve been up to. Eating your evening meal as a family is a good way to encourage conversation, while older kids are often more chatty in the car, where they feel less like they’re being interrogated. You could also try our tips for asking the right questions to elicit information.
5 Phone a friend (or relative)
Persuade your child to take a break from text and WhatsApp and develop their speaking skills by making an actual phone call. ‘Encouraging them to speak to different family members on the phone or on a video call will build confidence,’ says Billie.
6 Go on a nature walk
This is a great pre-phonics activity for young children, who can be encouraged to listen carefully to the sounds they hear – from traffic to birdsong – and describe them. They can also describe the natural sights they see, such as trees, animals and birds and the sky.
7 Sign them up for a club
Joining extracurricular clubs is a good opportunity for your child to converse with different people outside the home or school environment. Many of them also involve taking instructions (such as being coached in sporting techniques or to complete science or art projects), and introduce them to different vocabulary relating to their new hobby.
https://www.theschoolrun.com/what-is-oracy
