At Old Hutton, we are committed to providing a high-quality English curriculum that inspires and engages our students. One of the key elements of our approach is the use of high-quality texts as a stimulus for learning.
We believe that exposing students to a wide range of texts, including literature, non-fiction, and poetry, not only enhances their reading skills but also nurtures their creativity, critical thinking, and communication abilities. By immersing students in rich and diverse literary experiences, we aim to foster a lifelong love for reading and writing.
Our carefully selected texts are chosen to challenge and captivate students, encouraging them to explore different genres, styles, and perspectives. These texts serve as a springboard for discussions, analysis, and interpretation, allowing students to develop their understanding and appreciation of language and literature.
Through the exploration of high-quality texts, our students develop their writing skills, as they learn to emulate the techniques and styles of accomplished authors. They also learn to read as writers, analysing the choices made by authors and applying these insights to their own writing.
We firmly believe that a strong foundation in English is essential for success across the curriculum and in life beyond school. By using high-quality texts as a stimulus, we provide our students with the tools they need to become confident readers, articulate speakers, and skilled writers.
Phonics
At Old Hutton, we use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP).
This is a fully comprehensive programme where children start learning single letter sounds in the autumn term of their Reception year and it builds in progression throughout Class One and Year One, preparing children for the statutory phonics screening that takes place at the end of Year One.
Phonics is taught every day and children learn to apply their phonics skills in reading practise sessions throughout the week, developing their fluency and comprehension skills along the way.
Here is the link to the 'For Parents' section of the Little Wandle website. https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
The resources on this page will help you support your child with saying their phonemes (sounds) and writing their graphemes (letters). There are also useful videos so you can see how your child is taught at school, to be able to confidently support their reading at home.
If you have any questions about how we teach phonics at Old Hutton or you would just like to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact school.
Reading
Writing