Section menuOur Curriculum
Reading at Long Wittenham Primary School
Reading in an intrinsic part of every child’s development. From entering our school in Foundation Stage, to completing year 6 and preparing our pupils for transition into secondary school, reading has a key focus is and at the core of all successful learning in school.
In EYFS and KS1, we use the Letters and Sounds scheme of work as well as Phonics Play so that our children gain the very best opportunities to develop and apply their phonic knowledge and thus become good readers. Phonics is taught every day and as children progress through Phase 5, they pick up spellings using the No Nonsense Spelling scheme. Where children struggle to get to grips with Phonics, we use several interventions to enable them to catch up. These are specific to the exact needs of the pupil and success is monitored closely by our SEND team.
At the end of year 1, all pupils sit the Phonics Screening Check (PSC), which every child in England is required to take. Data from this test is used nationally to assess the success of our phonics teaching and learning. At the end of 2019, our PSC score was 92% showing that we are 10% above expected level of attainment in year 1.
We primarily use Oxford Reading Tree to develop early reading. It is our intention that all learners take home reading books to support their phonics focus for that week or day.
Writing at Long Wittenham Primary School
Throughout school, every teacher plans and delivers the writing aspect of literacy through the use of rich and engaging text. These texts drive the teaching and learning, providing pupils with the maximum opportunity to succeed in their learning. Children have opportunities to write in English lessons every day and this is consolidated through afternoon lessons in our wider curriculum. High expectations are modelled in all subjects, at all times.
Using exciting and interesting texts enriches the learning for all pupils regardless of their ability. At times, these texts can link to the overarching theme of the term, and at other times, certain texts are used to focus on the needs of the class. No tenuous links are used: texts either match the topic or are used to fine-tune teaching and learning in order to maximise impact.
Mathematics at Long Wittenham Primary School
Mathematics is taught discreetly at LWPS. We follow the White Rose Scheme of work, although the needs of our pupils will always trump a scheme of work in maths. Maths mastery is our approach and this aims at teaching to greater depth all mathematical concepts. It provides support while also ensuring challenge.
Our curriculum is designed so that gaps are addressed within lessons or as soon as possible afterwards. This depends on the key objective being covered and the needs of the class not just in the development of skills, but in their ability to reason and articulate their thinking about maths. We have adopted a mastery approach as we believe that all children can master and succeed in maths if their learning. In order to fine tune calculation and times tables strategies, pupils carry out weekly CLIC challenges and Learn Its.
Parental Support
Every autumn term new parents are invited into our EYFS class to see and take part in a phonics session delivered by our EYFS Lead, Mrs Rowley. Best practice is shared and parents and carers have the opportunity to ask questions to help them understand the vital role phonics plays in developing early reading.
Throughout the rest of the school, we hold Book, Biscuit and Brew events during our Book Fair week aimed at promoting Reading for Pleasure. Parents come into school for a coffee or tea and read with their, and other, children. New books are celebrated together and funds raised through our Book Fair are used to stock our library with Reading for Pleasure texts.