Writing
English at College Town
“So Matilda’s strong, young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea.”
Roald Dahl
English is the foundation of all learning at College Town Primary. Speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills are used across all subjects and are essential to children’s development. Strong spoken language skills are vital, as they form the basis for reading and writing. Without them, students may find it difficult to fully engage with their learning. That’s why we ensure that every child has opportunities to develop their language skills in meaningful ways.
Our Approach to English
Our English curriculum is based on the Literacy Tree platform, a comprehensive, book-based program that meets all Primary English curriculum requirements. Through this platform, we use book-based planning sequences that engage children in writing with a clear audience and purpose. This approach forms the core of the Teach Through a Text pedagogy, which allows students to connect deeply with texts and explore different genres and writing styles.
Book-Based Pedagogy
At the heart of our curriculum is the belief that reading and writing go hand in hand. We encourage students to read a wide range of high-quality, diverse children’s literature by well-known authors. By immersing children in rich literary worlds, we aim to inspire them to write for various audiences and purposes. This approach also fosters meaningful discussions, debates, and process drama, enabling students to connect with the text and the characters while exploring different perspectives and experiences.
A Diverse Range of Texts
Each year group enjoys a carefully chosen mix of classic, long-standing books, alongside new and emerging authors. Our goal is to expose students to both timeless literature and contemporary stories, expanding their knowledge and love of reading. Research shows that one of the best ways to become a good writer is to read widely, analysing language from books to inspire and model quality writing.
Developing Writing Skills
We aim to immerse children in high-quality texts, studying the way authors use language to craft their stories. Each book is used to develop key writing skills such as vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and structure. Through our writing activities, students have opportunities to write for different audiences and purposes, developing their creative and technical writing skills.
Each unit concludes with a main outcome that encourages children to apply their learning to a final piece of writing, but along the way, they are exposed to a range of writing styles, giving them valuable practice and experience.
At College Town Primary, our English curriculum is designed to foster a love of reading and writing while developing essential skills that will serve our students throughout their education. By using the Literacy Tree platform and focusing on high-quality texts, we ensure that every child is given the tools they need to succeed in both reading and writing. We are committed to making English an engaging, rewarding, and essential part of our students’ education.