At Dinnington First School, our vision for English is to equip every child with the language, reading, and writing skills they need to communicate confidently and effectively. We believe spoken language, reading, and writing are the foundations for success across the curriculum and in later life. 

Intent

Our vision for our children as readers and writers… 

At Dinnington First School, we believe English underpins success across the whole curriculum and beyond. Our intent is to: 

• Develop confident speakers who can express themselves clearly and listen respectfully to others. 

• Ensure all children become fluent, accurate readers who develop a genuine love of books and stories. 

• Equip children with the skills to write for a range of purposes, using rich vocabulary, correct spelling, grammar, and handwriting. 

• Teach children to apply their English skills across all subjects, enabling them to access knowledge and communicate effectively. 

• Build resilience, independence, and creativity in children’s use of spoken and written language. 

Implementation

In a English lessons, this is what you will see…  

We deliver English through a consistent, structured approach across school: 

• Phonics & Early Reading – Read Write Inc. (RWI) taught daily from Nursery onwards, with regular assessments and targeted support for children who need to catch up. 

• Reading for Pleasure & Comprehension – Carefully chosen texts, daily story time, guided reading, and comprehension strategies develop fluency, understanding, and a love of reading. 

• Writing – Using The Write Stuff principles, writing lessons follow a clear sequence of SPaG pre-teach, Sentence Stacking, and Independent Writing. Children are taught to plan, craft, and edit their work with growing independence. 

• Spelling, Handwriting & Vocabulary – Explicit teaching of spelling patterns, daily handwriting practice through the Nelson scheme, and planned vocabulary instruction across all subjects strengthen children’s accuracy and expression. 

• Grammar & Punctuation – Taught in context through modelled texts and weekly SPaG sessions, with emphasis on purpose, audience, and clarity of communication. 

• Assessment & Planning – Regular assessment informs planning, ensuring that misconceptions are addressed quickly and children make strong progress. Writing, reading, and spelling are tracked consistently across the year. 

This structured approach ensures that all pupils, including those with additional needs, make progress and leave Dinnington First as confident speakers, enthusiastic readers, and capable writers. 

Impact

We know our children are achieving because…  

As a result of this approach, children at Dinnington First School: 

• Speak with confidence, using a wide vocabulary for different purposes and audiences. 

• Read fluently, with understanding and enjoyment, and develop a lifelong love of reading. 

• Write independently for a range of purposes and audiences, demonstrating secure grammar, spelling, and handwriting. 

• Apply their reading and writing skills across the wider curriculum. 

• Make at least expected progress from their starting points, with gaps identified and closed quickly. 

• Leave our school equipped with the literacy skills they need for the next stage of their education and beyond.