Spoken Language at Bewdley Primary School - Statement of Intent

It is our intent at Bewdley Primary School to provide pupils with a high-quality education in English that will teach pupils to speak, read and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others effectively.

With regards to spoken language, we will ensure the continual development of pupils’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills. Pupils will develop a capacity to explain their understanding of books and other reading, and to prepare their ideas before they write. They will be assisted in making their thinking clear to themselves as well as to others and build secure foundations by using discussion to probe and remedy their misconceptions. Pupils will also be taught to understand and use the conventions for discussion and debate. All pupils will participate in and gain knowledge, skills and understanding associated with drama and role play. They will be able to adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role. They will have opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences, as well as to rehearse, refine, share and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre performances.

In relation to Spoken Language, the National Curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

Pupils should be taught to:

• Listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers;
• Ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge;
• Use relevant strategies to build their vocabulary;
• Articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions;
• Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings; 
• Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments;
• Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas;
• Speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English;
• Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates;
• Gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listener(s);
• Consider and evaluate different viewpoints, attending to and building on the contributions of others;

• Select and use appropriate registers for effective communication.

 

Writing at Bewdley Primary School - Statement of Intent

At Bewdley Primary School we strive to provide pupils with a high-quality education in English that will teach pupils to speak, read and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others effectively.

With regards to Writing, we intend for pupils to be able to plan, edit and evaluate their writing.  As a school, we follow the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach which covers three stages: imitation, innovation and independent application.  Most sequences of learning are centred around a key text.  Children first become familiar with the text in terms of its structure and language.   They then work to analyse the features that have helped to make the text work.  Other exemplar texts are sometimes also used within the sequence to highlight key skills or features.  Once the children are confident with the text type and the story that they are working with, they get the opportunity to innovate, considering how they could alter elements of the story without losing the structure.  It is our intention that this process is both enjoyable and beneficial for children of all ages and abilities as it enables creativity however also provides structure and ideas. 

Aims of Writing

At Bewdley Primary School our aim is to develop an awareness of the audience, purpose and context in which they are writing.

In relation to writing the National Curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language;
• Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage;
• Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences;
• Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas;
• Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

At Bewdley Primary School, writing is a crucial part of our curriculum. All children from Foundation Stage to Year 6 are provided with many opportunities to develop and apply their writing skills across the curriculum. For further information, please read our English Policy. 

BPS English Policy is attached below