The National Curriculum 2014 forms the basis of teaching and learning in English at Pear Tree Mead. The subject is taught across the school through a cross-curricular approach, enabling children to make purposeful links between their English skills and other areas of the curriculum. This includes one unit a year based on science and multiple links with experience topics. Lessons include a balance of text, word, and sentence-level work, alongside speaking and listening activities, and a focus on exploring a wide range of genres.

We ensure that pupils enjoy their learning by engaging with texts that are lively, interesting, and relevant across the curriculum. We use Grammarsaurus, which has supported us in developing our own personalised English curriculum tailored specifically to the needs of Pear Tree Mead pupils. This approach provides teachers with a strong framework and a range of high-quality resources to plan, deliver, and assess engaging, effective lessons.

Our teaching is grounded in the principles of engagement, exploration, and expression. We aim to develop literacy skills through interactive, creative, and inclusive teaching strategies that inspire curiosity and independence. Teachers enrich children’s learning through interactive games, discussion, drama, and a variety of collaborative tasks designed to strengthen both basic and higher-order skills.

The PTM curriculum has a large focus on cross-curricular learning, broadening opportunities for children to read and write across subjects and apply their literacy skills in meaningful contexts.

Teachers plan carefully to support independent learning, ensuring that lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all pupils. Clear learning objectives are shared at the start of each session so that children understand what they are learning and how to achieve it.

Through this approach, we aim for each child to:

· Read fluently and with understanding, developing the ability to interpret and appreciate a wide range of texts.

· Read for pleasure and information, choosing texts that engage their interests and sharing recommendations with others.

· Develop imagination and creativity, using language to explore ideas, emotions, and viewpoints. Talk for Writing helps children in KS1 become imaginative because it lets them step inside a story before they ever write it, and drama is a big part of that process.

· Build a rich and evolving vocabulary, understanding the power and nuance of words. This can be seen through our vocabulary displays throughout the school.

· Write with confidence and clarity, adapting their writing for different purposes, audiences, and genres.

· Apply accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation to support effective communication.

· Present work with care and pride, showing ownership of their learning.

· Use speaking and listening purposefully, to explore, reflect, and communicate ideas.

· Express their own opinions respectfully and with confidence.

· Challenge themselves and strive for continual improvement, developing resilience and independence as learners.

We believe that high-quality language experiences are the foundation for successful reading and writing. The richness, variety, and purpose of the language children hear, and use play a crucial role in their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Our pedagogical approach places speaking and listening at the heart of all learning. We create purposeful opportunities for pupils to engage with language in meaningful, interactive, and imaginative ways. Through carefully planned activities, children learn to communicate clearly, listen actively, think critically, and collaborate effectively with others.

We provide a wide range of structured and informal speaking and listening experiences, including:

· Talking about personal experiences and recounting significant events

· Participating in discussions, debates, and collaborative problem-solving

· Retelling and performing stories and poems

· Expressing opinions, reasoning, and justifying ideas

· Listening attentively to stories read aloud and responding thoughtfully

· Presenting ideas and information to different audiences

· Taking part in assemblies and school performances

· Responding to a variety of texts, media, and visual stimuli

· Engaging with visitors to the school through questioning and dialogue

· Listening to and respecting the ideas and viewpoints of adults and peers

· Participating in role-play and drama activities across the curriculum

Speaking and listening are integrated throughout the English curriculum and across all subjects, ensuring that children have frequent, purposeful opportunities to use oral language to explore, reflect, and deepen understanding. Teachers plan these experiences progressively, supporting pupils in developing confidence, fluency, and the ability to adapt their communication to suit different audiences and contexts.

At Pear Tree Mead, we believe that reading is the foundation of all learning and the key to unlocking every child’s potential. Our aim is to nurture a genuine love of reading so that children see it not only as a skill to master, but as a lifelong source of pleasure, curiosity, and discovery.

Our Pedagogical Approach - We recognise that the quality, consistency, and variety of reading experiences children encounter are crucial to developing confident and motivated readers. Our approach ensures that every child engages with reading in meaningful, enjoyable, and progressively challenging ways. We provide a broad range of reading opportunities that include:

· Guided reading, where children read texts closely matched to their ability, allowing teachers to model strategies for decoding, fluency, and comprehension in small groups.

· Shared reading, where the teacher demonstrates reading fluency, expression, and understanding, helping pupils appreciate rhythm, tone, and authorial intent.

· Regular independent reading, encouraging children to apply taught skills, build reading stamina, and take ownership of their reading journey.

· Daily read-aloud sessions, where children experience high-quality literature read expressively by adults, developing listening skills, vocabulary, and a love for story.

· Choice-led reading, allowing pupils to select books that interest and inspire them, fostering autonomy and engagement.

· Reading across the curriculum, so that children see reading as purposeful and relevant in every subject area.

At Pear Tree Mead, all staff are committed to being positive reading role models, sharing enthusiasm for books and demonstrating the habits of lifelong readers, especially through Early Reading. Each class chooses a shared class text, which becomes a central part of learning. This shared reading experience enables teachers to model key reading behaviours—such as making predictions, visualising, inferring meaning, and analysing language choices—while promoting rich classroom discussion.

Our guided reading sessions are carefully structured to meet the needs of different learners. Texts are chosen to provide appropriate challenge while supporting children to build fluency, comprehension, and confidence. Planning draws upon the Assessment Focuses and National Curriculum objectives, ensuring continuity and progression in reading skills.

Early Reading - Our approach is centred on creating a welcoming, stimulating environment where children can explore language, develop confidence, and build essential literacy skills. Through carefully selected reading materials, interactive storytelling, and engaging activities, we help young learners develop phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension in ways that are both fun and meaningful. By celebrating each child’s progress and encouraging curiosity, Pear Tree Mead supports early readers in becoming confident, enthusiastic, and capable readers who are ready to explore the wider world of literature.

Our Vision - Through our carefully planned and responsive approach to reading and phonics, we aim to develop confident, fluent, and passionate readers—children who approach every book as an opportunity to learn, imagine, and grow.

We are proud of our school library, which is stocked with a wide variety of modern and engaging texts that cater for all ages and interests. Reading is celebrated throughout school, with incentives and rewards that recognise effort, perseverance, and achievement. Children are encouraged to explore the full range of books available and are recognised for their commitment to reading widely.

Our school delivers successful book fairs by creating an exciting and welcoming atmosphere that encourages children to develop a love of reading. The fairs are well-organised and promoted, which helps to engage pupils, parents and staff. By offering a wide range of high-quality books, our book fairs motivate children to explore new authors and genres while also raising valuable funds to support reading across the school.

Each year, we celebrate World Book Day with enthusiasm and creativity. Themed activities, storytelling sessions, and dress-up events help bring stories to life and deepen children’s connection to books and authors.

We use ELS Phonics, a systematic and engaging phonics programme that helps children understand the relationship between letters and sounds, enabling them to decode words with confidence. Through carefully selected reading materials, interactive storytelling, and phonics-based activities, we support young learners in developing phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension in ways that are both fun and meaningful.

A secure understanding of phonics underpins all successful reading and writing. At Pear Tree Mead, phonics is taught daily through a systematic, synthetic approach that enables children to make clear links between letters and sounds. Lessons are structured, pacey, and engaging, incorporating visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic strategies to support all learners.

Children are encouraged to apply their phonic knowledge in reading and writing across the curriculum, building confidence as independent readers and spellers. Progress in phonics is carefully monitored so that additional support can be provided promptly where needed.

Our Vision - Through our carefully planned and responsive approach to reading and phonics, we aim to develop confident, fluent, and passionate readers—children who approach every book as an opportunity to learn, imagine, and grow.

Spelling is taught systematically and progressively, reinforcing phonics and grammar knowledge.

Key Stage 1

· Spelling is taught through a school-devised scheme aligned with children’s phonics knowledge.

· In Year 2, Twinkl spellings supplement the scheme, consolidating Phase 5 phonics and National Curriculum expectations.

· Lessons include explicit teaching, guided practice, and application in writing activities.

Key Stage 2

· We follow the Grammarsaurus Spelling Programme, which combines explicit teaching of rules with investigative learning:

1. Blind pre-test to identify prior knowledge and focus areas

2. Teaching and exploration of spelling rules, patterns, and exceptions

3. Final test to assess learning and application at the end of the week

· Children are encouraged to explore spelling patterns, make connections with vocabulary, and apply their knowledge in authentic writing contexts.

Application Across the Curriculum

· Spelling skills are reinforced in writing lessons, cross-curricular tasks, and independent work.

· Children are supported in self-correction and proofreading, embedding spelling strategies as part of the writing process.

By combining phonics-based foundations, Grammarsaurus rule-based learning, and ongoing practice and application, Pear Tree Mead ensures children become confident, accurate spellers ready for the demands of KS2 and beyond.

Writing at Pear Tree Mead is taught as a structured, purposeful, and creative process, guided by the writing process:

1. Plan: Generating ideas, discussing content, and structuring writing

2. Draft: Composing text independently or collaboratively

3. Edit: Reviewing for clarity, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary

4. Publish: Producing a polished piece for presentation, display, or sharing

Writing Pedagogy:

· Grammarsaurus supports teaching grammar, punctuation, sentence-level skills, and spelling systematically

· Writing is genre-based, ensuring children write for different purposes and audiences

· Cross-curricular writing applies literacy skills in meaningful contexts

· Teachers model the writing process, gradually releasing responsibility to children

· Emphasis is placed on vocabulary development, creativity, and confidence.

· Handwriting, spelling, and presentation are taught alongside composition skills.

Writing is supported through daily English sessions, guided writing, and extended opportunities in other subjects, enabling children to develop fluency, accuracy, and creative voice.