English

Phonics and Early Reading

At Hill Top, 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/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.

As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words as they read. At Hill Top, we also model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

Reading

We have built our reading curriculum around the principles of evidence-led practice, including the recommendations from the EEF Improving Literacy Guidance Report. This is to ensure that pupils are equipped to successfully think, work and communicate like a reader. Our reading curriculum focuses on excellence by learning from outstanding authors, and the intention is that exceptional teacher instruction inspires pupils to acquire knowledge as readers and skillfully apply their understanding. It is our intention that through studying a range of quality yet challenging fiction, non-fiction and poetry, pupils become more expert as they progress through the curriculum, which develops pupils’ language capabilities, supports pupils to develop fluent reading capabilities and teaches reading comprehension strategies through modelling and supported practice.

Whole School Reading Intent 

For full guidance please see our Phonics and Early Reading Policy below.  

Phonics and Early Reading Policy

Little Wandle Overview 

Little Wandle Pronunciation 1

Little Wandle Pronunciation 2 

Little Wandle Pronunciation 3                                                                                                   

Formation of Capital Letters                                                 

English 

At Hill Top  Academy, we want all children to be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions through their writing and reach their full potential.

Our aims are to:

  • Guide and nurture each individual on their own personal journeys to becoming successful writers.
  • Provide exciting writing opportunities and experiences that engage and enhance all pupils.
  •  We want all children to acquire a wide vocabulary and to be able to spell new words by effectively applying the spelling patterns and rules they learn throughout their time in primary school.
  • We want all children to have a solid understanding of grammar and apply it effectively to their writing.
  • We want them to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.
  • We believe that all children should be encouraged to take pride in the presentation of their writing, in part by developing a legible, cursive, individual handwriting style by the time they move to secondary school.
  • We want every child to have a good knowledge of phonics to springboard children to becoming fluent writers.
  • To plan a progressive curriculum to build upon previous teaching, with regular assessment to ensure each child’s needs are met to reach their full potential.

At Hill Top we want to equip pupils with the knowledge to become fluent, accruate and creative writers. Please find below our whole school approach to writing and progression for pupils. 

Whole School Writing Intent  

Handwriting 

Children will be taught handwriting using a cursive style. An example of each letter can be seen here: 

Children in early years will be initially taught each individual letter before learning how to join them in a style called pre-cursive. In KS1 continue to work on letter formation and begin to attempt to join letters. In KS2, if children are already joining, they will continue to use the approach they have learned. However, where children have not yet grasped this, they will continue to be taught how to write in cursive joined handwriting.

Handwriting Policy