English

At Gordon Children's Academy, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Nursery and Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school. 

At Gordon, we value the importance of reading as a crucial life skill. By the time children leave us, they read confidently for meaning and regularly enjoy reading for pleasure. They are equipped with the tools to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary and are confident in discussing the books they are reading.

Children are provided with a decodable reading practice book to take home which is carefully matched to their ability. They also have the opportunity to take home a reading for pleasure book to share with their families from our school library. As well as this, we ensure all children have a library card and have regular trips to the local library throughout the academic year.

We have a strong focus on oracy with opportunities for Speaking and Listening throughout the curriculum in order to equip them with a strong command of the spoken, as well as the written language. Each week, a child from each class is awarded the oracy certificate in our achievement assembly.

Our writing is taught through high quality texts whilst grammar, punctuation and spelling are taught discretely. In writing, a range of genres has carefully been planned out through each academic year. Our writing follows the structure of: immersion, explicit teaching of grammar, punctuation and spelling, planning, drafting, editing and improving and publishing. Children are able to apply their meta-cognitive thinking to really consider how they can best improve their writing and take pride in their finished product.