'To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark' - Victor Hugo

Reading Intent  

Reading is given a high priority in Buckland’s curriculum, as it the ability to read and understand which opens up learning for children.  Our main aim is for our pupils to leave school being children who love to read and who want to be life-long readers.  We want them to enjoy a whole variety of genres (including poetry) and recognise that reading can also be purposeful and that they have a range of strategies and skills, that they have honed, available when they need them.  We want children to use reading as a way of broadening their horizons, recognising that they can enter different worlds and other people’s worlds which will help them relate to others, be empathetic towards people by sharing and developing their emotional responses to what they read.  By the time children leave Buckland, they will be more than competent readers who can recommend books to their peers, have a thirst for reading a range of genres and participate in discussions about books, including evaluating an author’s use of language and the impact this can have on the reader.  

Writing Intent  

At Buckland, we believe writing is a vital life skill which enables children to communicate, express themselves and succeed across the curriculum and beyond. We aim for all children to see themselves as confident, capable writers who write with purpose, creativity and accuracy for a range of audiences and contexts.

Our writing curriculum is carefully sequenced from the Early Years through to Year 6, building strong foundations in spoken language, transcription and composition so that pupils develop the knowledge and skills needed to become fluent and effective writers. We want children to develop a rich vocabulary, an understanding of audience and purpose and the ability to adapt their writing across a range of genres.

We believe children produce their best writing when learning is meaningful and engaging. Through high-quality texts, cross-curricular links and real-life experiences, we aim to inspire children to develop confidence, resilience and pride in their work. High expectations are embedded throughout the curriculum to ensure all pupils are supported and challenged to achieve their full potential as writers.

Through our writing curriculum, we aim to nurture articulate, reflective and ambitious learners who are prepared for the next stage of their education and able to use writing confidently in the wider world.

Speaking and Listening Intent 

At Buckland, we recognise that spoken language underpins all aspects of learning. Through high-quality opportunities for speaking and listening and oracy development in our curriculum, we aim to develop confident, articulate pupils who are able to communicate effectively, listen actively and respond thoughtfully in a wide range of contexts. We want all children to leave our school with the vocabulary, language structures and confidence needed to express themselves clearly, explain their thinking and engage positively with others. We recognise that high-quality speaking and listening opportunities can be transformative for all pupils, particularly those who may be disadvantaged, vulnerable or less confident communicators. Through carefully structured talk, pupils develop confidence, agency and the ability to participate fully in school life and the wider community.

We recognise the important role that talk plays in supporting thinking, reading and writing development. High-quality classroom discussion enables pupils to rehearse ideas, develop vocabulary, deepen understanding and strengthen reasoning across the curriculum. Drawing on the principles of the DfE’s Strong Foundations guidance, we provide purposeful opportunities for pupils to develop spoken language through discussion, storytelling, questioning, drama, debate and collaborative learning.

Our curriculum is designed to ensure progression in speaking and listening from the Early Years through to Year 6. Children are taught to listen attentively, build upon the ideas of others, justify opinions and adapt their language according to audience, purpose and context. We aim to foster a culture in which all pupils feel valued, confident to contribute and respectful of the views of others.

Reading Spines

Our reading spines are the core texts we use in our English teaching across the school. The texts are carefully selected – they are linked to our termly values as well as to our work in History and Geography. There are a wide range of excellent children’s authors represented – these are high quality, rich and engaging texts. Teachers use the whole class texts in a variety of ways - the themes and writing outcomes are included to give an idea of how we use the books as text drivers for writing – to inspire writing in a wide range of genres. Our books are also read during Storytime and for some of our Guided Reading lessons.

'The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words' - William H. Gass