"Reading and writing float on a sea of talk."
James Britton

At Thomas’s Academy, we believe that language lies at the heart of learning. Through a rich and balanced English curriculum, we aim to develop confident communicators, thoughtful readers and creative, independent writers. We plan with our school values and learning attitudes in mind, ensuring that all pupils are equipped with the skills they need to succeed.

Spoken Language

We recognise that talk underpins all learning in English. Through structured discussions, drama, role play, debates and collaborative work, children are given opportunities to explore ideas and express themselves clearly. Spoken language is a vital tool for developing thinking, deepening understanding and building confidence. It is the foundation on which reading and writing are built.

Writing

Our writing curriculum develops creativity, precision and purpose. Each half term, every class studies a high-quality, inclusive and diverse core text that forms the foundation for their writing. These texts cover a range of genres including fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

We draw on elements of the Talk for Writing approach, enabling children to learn through speaking, internalising story structures and language patterns before crafting their own texts. Children are supported through shared and modelled writing before being encouraged to apply their skills and knowledge independently.

We use the Nelson Handwriting font and ensure that children are taught a consistent, legible and fluent style of handwriting from an early stage.

Reading

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. Each half term, every class explores a carefully chosen core text – separate from their writing text, which offers opportunities for developing reading skills and deepening a love of literature. These texts reflect a wide range of voices, cultures and perspectives.

Our teaching of reading focuses on the key skills of fluency, vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, and retrieval (VIPERS), helping children become confident and thoughtful readers. We provide targeted support where needed, while always encouraging pupils to apply these skills independently as they grow in confidence.