To become the best person you can be
Weatherfield Academy
English
Learning Pathway
Lower School
‘Ready for Independence’
Communication
Pupils are encouraged to speak to both adults and their peers in every lesson at Weatherfield. Specific speaking and listening activities are embedded into the English curriculum.
Within the Lower School, pupils discuss their key vocabulary before a lesson begins and ensure they have an understanding of any new vocabulary that is introduced. There are regular opportunities for discussing pupils’ hobbies and interests.
Within the Academy, we understand the importance of developing listening skills. We promote good manners and important life skills across the curriculum.
Reading
All pupils in the Lower School read every morning, independently or to an adult. A love for reading is encouraged across the key stage, by allowing students to bring in their material to read. We follow the Big Cat Collins reading scheme where pupils are able to progress through stages in line with their reading ability.
All pupils attend a weekly library session where they can choose a book, from a wide selection, and take it home. Pupils take part in shared reading sessions throughout the term in cross-curricular lessons. Reading books are sent home daily and pupils are rewarded for reading at home. Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) is used within the curriculum at a given point coordinated by the tutor of each class.
Writing
Pupils have regular handwriting lessons focusing on the formation of their letters and words, including size, orientation and relationship to one another. Pupils focus on a different genre of writing every half term, to develop their writing. This is in the form of a sequence of lessons whereby pupils are exposed to modelled writing, shared writing and finally produce an independent piece of written work in the chosen genre. Within this sequence of lessons, pupils embed SPaG skills, specific to the genre of writing alongside a weekly dedicated SPaG Lesson.
Phonics
Pupils are assessed in Phonics at the beginning of the academic year using the Letters and Sounds assessment. Pupils take part in daily phonics lessons, in the form of online interactive activities (using Phonics Play) independently, in small groups or as a class working alongside developing their social skills.
Spellings
Pupils will take part in daily spelling practice with the option of taking them home to practise. Pupils are encouraged to use their spelling words in sentences to ensure consolidation of understanding. Pupils use dictionaries to find the definition of words they are unsure of. At the end of the week, pupils will take part in a spelling test. Spelling lists are chosen from Letters and Sounds, linking directly to the pupil’s assessed phonics phase.
Key Stage 4
‘Ready for my Future’
Communication
Pupils are encouraged to speak to both adults and their peers in every lesson at Weatherfield. Specific speaking and listening activities are embedded into the English curriculum, linking to the functional skills requirements.
There are regular opportunities for discussions, cross-curricular links to PSHE, Life skills, Science.
Within the Academy, we understand the importance of developing listening skills. We promote good manners and important life skills across the curriculum, which are modelled by all adults working with our pupils.
Reading
All pupils will have access to a range of levelled reading books, along with free reading material, to encourage a love for reading. All students will be heard by an adult daily, during our DEAR time. Reading books will be sent home and students are rewarded with points for additional reading at home. Pupils are encouraged to read independently, to peers and a variety of adults within the school.
Writing
All adults to model appropriate writing, which is clear and legible. The expectation is that all letters and digits are consistently formed and of the correct size, orientation and relationship to one another. Emphasise on letters being spaced sufficiently so that ascenders and descenders do not meet, interventions and support offered to all pupils, if needed. Pupils will have an opportunity to discuss their writing plans with an adult. The content of the lesson plans are linked to the Functional Skills qualifications, and building on skills. In KS4 pupils are allowed to write in pen.
Phonics
The nurture group within KS4 will have work tailored to their individual needs, supported by the Letters and Sounds scheme. They will be provided opportunities to complete individual, group and interactive activities.
‘Free reading’ level students will be prompted to use a dictionary and thesaurus to support their spelling and understanding of words.
Spellings
All pupils have weekly spellings given to learn and practise. These spellings are linked to the spellings list in preparation for the Functional Skills examinations.
The nurture group in KS4 will have spellings from the high-frequency words lists, along with basic everyday words. Pupils will be encouraged to practise using their spelling words in sentences to ensure consolidation of understanding. Pupils are encouraged to use a dictionary to find the definition of their words. At the end of the week, pupils will take part in a spelling test.
Key Stage 5
‘Ready for Work’
Communication
Students build on their skills already developed throughout the academy. The focus in Key Stage 5 is to communicate effectively with others, being mindful of whether they are talking to peers, teaching staff, customers, others and in different settings. In listening, the focus is on being able to effectively receive information from whomever it comes from.
Communication is the key to our students’ learning and is embedded across the whole of the Key Stage 5 curriculum.
Reading
Students in Key Stage 5 read for purpose and are listened to reading across the curriculum, whether it be 1:1, small group or a whole class situation. When listening to our young people read, we work on areas of interest, fluency and understanding. Students focus on new words, ensuring they understand the meaning within the text to help develop their knowledge of reading.
Reading texts are differentiated to meet the needs of all our students and this also links to homework readers. Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) is used within the curriculum at a given point coordinated by the tutor of each class.
Writing
Writing skills are developed across the Key Stage 5 Curriculum. Functionality continues to be our focus, concentrating on developing their skills to write independently and confidently, whilst still focusing on their individual levels and pathways to ensure further progress is made across all students.
Students begin their journey of writing with structure and guidance to support their learning. This work is then edited by the student, peers and staff and this leads to a final piece of independent work building on all the teaching and learning that has taken place.
Phonics
Students across Key Stage 5 range from basic reading skills to independent readers. Resources are differentiated to meet the needs of all our learners. Letters and Sounds is used to support our nurture group.
Spellings
All students access spellings according to their individual needs and level of accreditation in line with the Functional Skills curriculum.
Overview
Under the ‘Ready to Work’ theme for Key Stage 5, it is imperative that we build on students’ skills but also to ensure that every students’ individual needs are met. Reference to SALT and interventions are undertaken to support those students
Curriculum Content
Curriculum content shows the topics that each key stage will be working on for the year. Click the key stage you wish to preview.
Enrichment Opportunities
See below links for further opportunities for your child to progress their learning in English
If you would like further information about our English curriculum please contact the English Leaders, via the Academy office or by email: english@weatherfield.beds.sch.uk
