Key Skills

As children's reading ability progresses they complete the Read Write Ink scheme of work.  Teachers use their key skills lesson slots to enhance core skills.  Teachers use their assessments to guide them as to the focus of these lessons.  There may be handwriting activities, reading activities or key maths skills.  This flexible approach helps teachers reinforce and revisit skills. 

Once children can decode fluently and have completed the Read, Write, Inc scheme of work they have daily key skills lessons.  Key skills lessons focus on basic reading, writing and maths skills.  They provide teachers with the opportunity to revisit key concepts to ensure children are able to apply previous learning over time.  Sessions are delivered as a whole class.  Teachers will plan sessions to meet the needs within the class. 

Lessons are fun and interactive.  Reading remains the bedrock of learning.  Teachers develop children's reading skills whilst promoting a love for reading by exposing children to a wide variety of texts and genres.

Our handwriting scheme is Letter-join.  Over time children develop their own handwriting style which is developed from our whole school handwriting approach.  Our agreed letter formation is taught and regularly revisited to ensure children become confident fluent writers.

English spelling can be a challenge for many pupils.  We use the RWI spelling scheme to introduce children to different spelling rules.  These sessions form the basis of weekly spelling homework.  We also assess children's high frequency word spellings frequently and lists of unknown words are available for parents on request.