English
At Northwood Park Primary, our English curriculum is rooted in our core values:
At its core, our approach to English at Northwood Park recognises that when children learn to read, write, and understand the world, they grow not only as learners but as kind, brave and proud individuals.
Through a carefully woven Golden Thread of diverse, high quality texts, children step into lives beyond their own. Pupils are exposed to different experiences which helps them develop empathy and respect for others. In exploring characters, cultures, and perspectives, they learn to listen, reflect, and value difference, nurturing a deep sense of kindness.
Daily reading opportunities create a supportive space where children can challenge themselves. With guidance and strong role models, they learn to tackle unfamiliar words and ideas, building confidence over time. This consistent encouragement helps Pupils to develop bravery and the resilience to persevere, question and tackle challenges in their learning.
English at Northwood Park
Through a structured process of exploring, practising, creating and refining, Pupils learn that their thoughts and ideas matter. Sharing their work builds confidence, whilst editing encourages both independence and resilience. Each piece of writing becomes a source of pride, reflecting both effort and personal voice.
A strong focus on vocabulary further strengthens this journey. We want to deepen understanding and foster curiosity about language and culture. With tailored support ensuring every child can succeed, all pupils are empowered to grow.
By the time they leave, children are confident communicators who read widely, write with purpose, and take pride in themselves as kind, brave, and capable individuals proud of their achievements.
EYFS
In the Early Years Foundation Stage, English is woven throughout our Golden Thread curriculum, providing essential foundations for communication, reading and writing. Through high quality texts, purposeful interactions and a language rich environment, children at Northwood Park develop vocabulary, speaking and listening skills and a love of reading. Systematic synthetic phonics via RWI supports children to decode, blend and develop early writing skills.
Meaningful opportunities for mark making, storytelling, role play and writing encourage creativity and independence. Assessment and responsive teaching ensure individual starting points are recognised and barriers addressed, enabling all children to develop the confidence, knowledge and curiosity needed to flourish as readers, writers and communicators.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, English teaching builds upon the foundations of EYFS in reading, writing and spoken language. Our RWI phonics scheme enables pupils to decode accurately and develop increasing fluency, while high quality texts studied as part of our Golden Thread of reading foster a love of reading and broaden vocabulary.
Pupils learn to write for different purposes and audiences, developing their skills in composition, handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Through modelling, shared writing and purposeful practice, children become increasingly confident and independent writers. Assessment and responsive teaching ensure that gaps are identified quickly and appropriate support is provided, enabling all pupils to make strong progress as readers, writers and communicators.
Key Stage 2
English teaching in KS2 enables our pupils to develop into confident, fluent and increasingly independent readers, writers and communicators. A range of exciting and engaging texts are studies as part of the Golden Thread curriculum. This enables pupils to broaden their vocabulary, deepen comprehension skills and develop an appreciation of diverse literature. Pupils write for a range of purposes, audiences and forms, making increasingly deliberate choices in vocabulary, grammar and structure. Explicit teaching of spelling, punctuation, handwriting and composition supports accuracy and fluency. Pupils continue their spelling journey through RWI spelling and handwriting. Through modelling, discussion, drafting, revising and editing, pupils develop their individual voice as writers. Assessment and responsive teaching identify gaps and provide appropriate support, enabling all pupils to achieve their potential and prepare successfully for secondary education.
Reading
At Northwood Park we believe in encouraging pupils to foster a love of reading for pleasure. Pupils who read on a regular basis in school - and at home - have a higher chance of fulfilling their academic potential.
We aim for reading to permeate all areas of the curriculum. Independent reading, and reading as a class, are integrated into the existing curriculum, with aspects of the Reading Policy used in everyday teaching. A wide variety of texts are available in order to provide pupils with a range of reading options.
Phonics at Northwood Park
At our school, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics (RWI) to teach our pupils the essential skills that they need to become fluent and confident readers.
Phonics lessons take place daily. In this, children will learn to recognise sounds, read words by blending sounds together and apply their growing knowledge to spelling and writing. Lessons are carefully structured: children work in groups that are closely matched to their stage of learning. Regular assessment helps us identify and address gaps quickly, ensuring that every child receives the support and challenge they need to succeed.
Children will read carefully matched RWI books, giving them regular opportunities to practise the sounds and words that they have learned. As their fluency and confidence grow, we encourage children to explore a wide range of books, authors and genres, developing a genuine love of reading.
Our approach reflects our school values of Be Kind, Be Brave and Be Proud. Children are encouraged to be brave when tackling unfamiliar words and sounds, kind by supporting and encouraging one another, and proud of the progress they make as their reading skills develop.
We believe that reading opens the door to learning, imagination and opportunity. Our ambition is for every child to become a confident reader who reads with fluency, understanding and enjoyment, laying the foundations for success throughout their education and beyond.
Supporting Phonics at home
RWI Parent & Carer Resources
Find helpful videos, activities and guidance to support your child with phonics and reading at home:
https://www.ruthmiskin.com/parentsandcarers
Read Write Inc. eBooks
Access FREE Read Write Inc. eBooks and phonics resources through Oxford Owl.
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/library-page?view=image&query=&type=book&age_group=&level=&level_select=&book_type=&series=Read+Write+Inc.#
Reading
We are passionate about developing a genuine love of reading across our school. Children are given regular opportunities to enjoy a wide range of books, authors, poets and genres, helping them to discover stories and subjects that capture their interests and allow their imaginations to flourish. Children celebrate World Book Day and our Reading for pleasure day, as well as having the opportunity to attend workshops with visiting authors at Wolverhampton Grammar School.
We want children to leave our school not only able to read fluently and confidently, but with a book they love, an author they want to discover and the belief that there is always another story waiting to be found.
Reading in Classrooms
In partnership with Wolverhampton Library Services, each classroom has a book box. This consists of books that are relevant to their Golden Thread book and provide opportunities for more in depth reading and research. These are updated half-termly and are refreshed with each Golden Thread book that is studied.
Library
Our school library is a welcoming space where children can discover, explore and enjoy the world of books. With a wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and picture books, there is something for every reader to enjoy.
Children have regular opportunities to visit the library, choose books that spark their interests and share recommendations with friends. We have a partnership with Wolverhampton City Library and are supported by a link librarian to ensure books provided to children are interesting, engaging and introduce children to a wide range of authors and genres.
Reading Rewards
At Northwood, we are lucky to have our book vending machine. This is stocked with lots of exciting books, both fiction and non-fiction, chosen by our School Council. Children are encouraged to log their weekly reading in their reading diaries and complete quizzes on Oxford Reading Buddy. Those who read at home are entered into our prize draw to win one of our books from the book vending machine.
Curriculum Overview
Learn more about our vision for English and the impact it will have on our children.
Progression of Skills and Knowledge
Learn more about what topics we cover with the children and the order in which we do them.
