English

Intent

At Lenthall Infant and Nursery School, we strive to provide our pupils with a high-quality English curriculum that lays the foundation for fluent speaking, reading, and writing. We aim to nurture enthusiastic and confident readers who explore a variety of texts for pleasure and information.

Our commitment includes improving phonics screening outcomes in Year 1, as research highlights that consistent, systematic phonics instruction is the most effective method for teaching young children to read. We also believe that confident speakers become confident writers, so we emphasise developing oracy skills across the entire curriculum, not just in English.

Implementation

Phonics

Our School has chosen Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our systematic, synthetic phonics (SSP) programme to teach early reading and spelling.  The children progress through the Little Wandle Programme until they can read fluently. Please see the document below for the programme overview and progression. 

For more information on our chosen systematic, synthetic phonics (SSP) programme, please visit:

Reading - A Love of Reading at the Heart of Our Class Names

At Lenthall, we place a strong emphasis on fostering a lifelong love of reading. Our class names reflect this passion, celebrating some of the most beloved children’s authors whose stories spark imagination, curiosity, and joy.

• Carle Class (Nursery FS1, ages 3–4) is named after Eric Carle, whose timeless books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar introduce young children to storytelling through vibrant illustrations and gentle themes.
• Donaldson Class (Reception FS2, ages 4–5) honours Julia Donaldson, whose rhythmic tales and memorable characters—such as The Gruffalo—encourage children to explore language and creativity.
• Rosen Class (Year 1) celebrates Michael Rosen, known for his playful poetry and engaging narratives like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, which help children develop a love for rhythm, repetition, and adventure in reading.
• Dahl Class (Year 2) is inspired by Roald Dahl, whose imaginative and often mischievous stories—like Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—challenge children to think big, dream boldly, and embrace the magic of books.

These names are more than just labels—they’re a reflection of our commitment to nurturing confident, curious readers from the very start of their educational journey.

Reading is a high priority throughout our school. Children engage in reading practice sessions at least three times a week, daily storytime, and individual reading support when needed. Our goal is to cultivate a love of reading in every child, inspiring them to become lifelong readers.

At Lenthall Infant and Nursery School, we utilise the Big Cat Collins Letters and Sounds Revised reading scheme. This phonically decodable scheme aligns with our phonics programme, ensuring that children read texts containing the phonemes and tricky words they have been taught. Assessments guide us in matching each child to the appropriate book.

Every classroom features inviting reading areas with subject-specific and age-appropriate ‘reading-for-pleasure’ books. Pupils are encouraged to explore these areas, selecting and interacting with books in an enjoyable manner. Each week, all children visit the school library and take home a 'Lenthall love-to-read' book to enjoy with someone at home.

All our curriculum themes are based on exciting texts. Please see below for the reading spine for each year group.

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Writing

At Lenthall Infant and Nursery School, we believe that 'Talk for Writing' is the most effective approach for our children. The aim is to develop imaginative, creative, and proficient writers. Our writing curriculum begins with an engaging 'hook,' centred on real-life experiences and enjoying writing, aligned with our half-termly overarching curriculum themes.

We follow a three-step process through Talk for Writing:

Imitate: A text is introduced and read to the children, who then collaboratively learn to tell the story. To aid retention, we employ a multi-sensory approach that includes visual story maps, actions, and lively expression. As children memorise the stories, they grasp specific sentence structures they can later use in their own writing. The principle is simple: if a child can tell a story, they can write one.

Innovate: Once pupils are familiar with the model text, the teacher guides them in creating their own versions. This involves altering the basic story map, retelling the new version, and utilising boxed-up planners. Shared, modelled, and guided writing provide structured opportunities for pupils to focus on integrating all elements to write effectively and accurately.

Invent: The final stage allows children to use the skills they've acquired throughout the process to compose an independent piece. They have the freedom to draw on their own ideas and experiences or closely follow the shared text if needed.

Speaking & Listening

Speaking and listening are integral to all areas of our curriculum. Teachers provide children with a variety of purposeful opportunities through play, drama, and discussion techniques (such as hot seating, freeze frames, puppetry, and debates) to enhance their speaking and listening skills. Adults model appropriate language use by employing complete sentences and Standard English.

Oracy

Oracy has always been central to our school improvement plan. We recognise that language development is vital for our pupils at Lenthall Infant and Nursery School. This focus drives our efforts to enhance children's spoken language and vocabulary, positively impacting all subjects, and is fundamental for achieving overall success!