At Milton Abbot School we plan teaching sequences that meet the National Curriculum objectives and build a child’s skills and knowledge, which crucially involves selecting engaging core texts that address key teaching points. However, during a lesson, teachers are always ready to assess and adapt beyond the plan to meet the needs of every child, whether that means challenging to go deeper or taking smaller steps to support misconceptions. To support assessment, before we plan a sequence the children complete an ‘Elicitation Task’, which is an independent piece of work to demonstrate their existing skills and knowledge around a selected focus. The teacher carefully looks for gaps and plans around these. During the sequence, the children will practice new skills from the core text and revise previously taught skills, including spelling patterns, until they are ready to test these skills out independently as an ‘Invent Task’.
To be able to use our language effectively and creatively is at the centre of all our work in school. English, as a ‘curriculum subject’ is given prime importance. It is, inevitably, interwoven within everything we do. We deal specifically with the three key areas.
Speaking and Listening
We promote the development of spoken English and listening skills across the curriculum. Great emphasis is placed on this at Key Stage 1 with the skills being given continued encouragement throughout Key Stage 2. Good listening skills are essential for learning and need to be taught from an early age. We provide regular and varied opportunities for this to happen, instilling the belief that careful listening to others is of great importance throughout life.
Reading
We adopt an individual approach to the teaching of reading, based on our assessment of each child’s needs. We have a structured approach to reading in the early years guiding and encouraging children to choose appropriate books from within a carefully selected range of books made available to them. We have a library with a good selection of fiction and non-fiction books. Each classroom will also contain a range of books designed to suit the children in the class and the topics being researched.
We teach children a variety of strategies for tackling reading and gaining greater independence. Reading is promoted as an essential skill and as fun! Reading is an area where strong home-school links are essential. We welcome your help in encouraging your child to read a little at home every day. We adopt an individual approach to the teaching of reading, based on our assessment of each child’s needs. We have a structured approach to reading in the early years guiding and encouraging children to choose appropriate books from within a carefully selected range of books made available to them. We have a library with a good selection of fiction and non-fiction books. Each classroom will also contain a range of books designed to suit the children in the class and the topics being researched.
Writing
Writing takes a variety of forms and includes creative story writing, poetry, factual accounts and experimental writing. We teach the skills of grammar, handwriting, spelling and punctuation within the context of meaningful writing for various purposes, as well as specific class ‘skills sessions’. Computers are used for word-processing and desktop publishing.
