English Statement of Intent

At Prospect Hill Junior School, we provide an ambitious and engaging English curriculum that enables all pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to communicate effectively through reading, writing and spoken language. We want our children to become confident communicators who are equipped to succeed both during their time at Prospect Hill and in the next stages of their education and beyond.

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that high-quality books have the power to inspire curiosity, develop imagination and open children's eyes to experiences and worlds beyond their own. Our pupils encounter a rich and varied range of texts which foster a genuine enjoyment of reading while developing vocabulary, comprehension and an appreciation of how language is used. Through reading widely and deeply, children learn to read as writers and write as readers, drawing upon the vocabulary, structures and techniques they encounter in the work of accomplished authors.

We aim to develop confident and increasingly independent writers who understand that writing has a purpose and an audience. Across a variety of text types and purposes, pupils develop secure foundations in transcription, spelling, handwriting, grammar and sentence construction. As these fundamental elements become increasingly fluent, children are able to concentrate more fully on crafting, revising and improving their writing, making deliberate choices about vocabulary, structure and style.

Our children will:

• develop a broad and rich vocabulary and an increasingly secure understanding of grammar and the conventions of spoken and written English;

• develop a lifelong enjoyment of reading and writing, recognising their power to inspire imagination, develop knowledge and create opportunities;

• read increasingly fluently, accurately and expressively across a wide range of genres, authors and text types;

• experience high-quality literature that reflects the diverse world in which they live, broadens their horizons and enables them to encounter experiences and perspectives beyond their own;

• listen, discuss and communicate confidently, using talk to explore ideas, deepen understanding, make connections, question, explain, persuade and respond thoughtfully to others;

• write confidently for a range of purposes and audiences, understanding the impact of their choices on the reader and adapting vocabulary, tone, structure and style appropriately;

• develop the creativity and confidence to experiment with language and draw upon their reading when making choices as writers;

• build secure knowledge of spelling through understanding phonics, morphology, etymology, spelling patterns and the structures of the English language;

• develop fluent, legible and increasingly efficient handwriting that enables them to communicate their ideas effectively;

• reflect upon, edit and improve their writing, becoming increasingly independent in recognising how their choices can strengthen the impact of a piece.

• build a secure and connected body of knowledge drawn from the National Curriculum and enriched through the wider curriculum. 

By the time children leave Prospect Hill Junior School, we want them to be enthusiastic readers, confident writers and articulate speakers: children who have the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively, the imagination to create, and a genuine appreciation of the power of language.