At Dosthill Primary Academy, our English curriculum is designed to develop confident, skilled, and passionate readers, writers, and communicators. We provide our pupils with a rich variety of opportunities to immerse themselves in language and literature, allowing them to explore different genres, build strong foundational skills, and express themselves creatively. Our aim is for every child to develop a deep love of reading, excellent communication skills, and a confident, independent voice in writing.

Phonics

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised program because it is a systematic, synthetic approach that effectively engages children in phonics and reading. Teachers closely monitor each child's progress to ensure that every child becomes a confident reader. Children practice reading engaging phonics books that match their developing phonic skills and knowledge of common exception (tricky) words. This early success helps build their confidence as readers. Re-reading and discussing these books with the teacher further supports their development of fluent decoding skills. Phonics and reading strategies are integrated throughout the school day, in addition to daily reading lessons.

Each week, every child takes home a decodable book matched to their reading ability. Additionally, they can select a library book from our classroom library to read for pleasure. This book is chosen by the child and may not be matched to their current phonic phase, allowing parents to read it to them. Children also enjoy listening to class stories read to them daily by their teacher.

Early Reading 

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we recognise the crucial role of early reading in children's academic success and well-being. Early phonics teaching starts as soon as possible, ensuring that children become fluent readers who can learn independently and acquire knowledge. We also prioritise reading for pleasure, recognising that children who enjoy reading are more likely to experience positive outcomes in school and beyond.

To help our children become fluent readers with strong comprehension, we:

• Teach phonological skills needed to decode texts through daily Little Wandle sessions.
• Assess phonics knowledge regularly and adjust teaching groups as needed.
• Provide access to decodable books that match children's current level of phonics knowledge.
• Offer additional support for children who have gaps in their learning.
• Build on prior knowledge, teaching a variety of reading strategies and encouraging discussion about key texts.

We also strive to foster a love of reading and encourage reading for pleasure by:

• Creating a reading-rich environment with stimulating reading areas.
• Ensuring weekly visits to the school library.
• Offering daily story time.
• Hosting workshops for parents and inviting authors and poets to share their expertise.
• Exposing children to a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts.

Reading

At Dosthill Primary Academy, reading is at the heart of our English curriculum. We understand that reading for pleasure is a key element in becoming a successful learner, and we actively encourage children to engage with books across all subjects. Reading allows children to explore new worlds, broaden their perspectives, and develop their language and comprehension skills.

Aligned with the Discovery Curriculum, our approach to reading encourages children to be Curious, Inquisitive, and Resilient learners. Pupils are exposed to a variety of texts that deepen their understanding of the world, enhance their empathy, and help them develop strong reading habits. Through key threads such as Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Awareness, children engage with texts that reflect the diverse society in which they live.

We believe that reading empowers children to handle complex emotions and navigate the world around them with confidence. Through regular story time, class discussions, and access to high-quality literature, we encourage all our pupils to become lifelong readers.

Oracy

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we understand the importance of Oracy in shaping confident, articulate communicators. Oracy - the ability to express oneself fluently and grammatically in speech - is crucial for children’s success both in school and in their future lives. Through oracy, children develop the language skills, confidence, and social interaction needed to engage meaningfully with the world around them.

Our curriculum provides regular opportunities for pupils to practice speaking and listening in a variety of contexts. We teach children how to be effective communicators, building skills in vocabulary, speech, and non-verbal communication. Through debate, discussion, and performance, children learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, consider different perspectives, and engage in meaningful dialogue with their peers and teachers.

Writing

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we aim to create confident and independent writers. Our writing curriculum is designed to build stamina, fluency, and creativity across a range of genres. Pupils are immersed in a variety of text types and develop a strong understanding of the purpose and audience for their writing. We ensure that our learners have the opportunity to explore different writing techniques, experiment with language, and take risks in their writing.

We follow the Literacy Tree program, which is a book-based approach that engages pupils in immersive, creative writing experiences. Each unit is designed to spark imagination and encourage pupils to explore the themes of the book before creating their own written pieces. Writing skills are reinforced through the Spelling Seeds program, which supports pupils in applying spelling and grammar rules within meaningful contexts.

Aligned with the Discovery Curriculum, writing at Dosthill encourages pupils to develop key threads such as Creativity, Challenge, and Resilience. Pupils are encouraged to push the boundaries of their writing, learning from mistakes, and refining their skills to create polished, impactful texts.

Spelling

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we understand that learning to spell is a key component of becoming a skilled writer. Our Spelling Seeds program complements the writing curriculum, providing contextualised spelling lessons that encourage pupils to apply their spelling knowledge in real-world writing tasks. Weekly sessions include spelling investigations, practice, and application within the context of the Literacy Tree texts being studied.

Through a combination of phonics and spelling instruction, pupils at Dosthill build strong foundational skills in spelling, enabling them to approach writing tasks with confidence and precision.