English
At Francis Baily, we believe that strong literacy skills unlock opportunity. Through a rich and engaging English curriculum, we aim to develop confident readers, fluent writers, articulate speakers and active listeners. Our teaching of reading, writing, phonics and spelling is carefully planned to ensure all pupils thrive, regardless of background, needs or ability.
Reading
We want every child to leave Francis Baily as a confident, fluent reader who loves books. Utilising the Master Reader's programme, we build this through:
- A literacy-rich environment with high-quality texts
- Guided, shared and independent reading opportunities
- Regular book talk to deepen understanding and encourage empathy.
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils will be able to:
- Read accurately and with understanding
- Apply phonics to decode unfamiliar words - see our separate Phonics page
- Read with expression, clarity and purpose
- Engage with a wide range of genres and authors
- Use reading to learn confidently across all subjects.
Writing
We want every child to see themselves as a writer with a voice. Using the Talk for Writing programme, pupils are immersed in diverse, high-quality texts that inspire meaningful writing.
Children develop their writing through:
- Exposure to rich vocabulary and powerful models of writing
- Structured lessons teaching grammar, punctuation and style
- Opportunities for drama, oral rehearsal and shared talk
- Drafting, editing and publishing work they are proud of.
Oracy is central to our writing approach. Pupils are encouraged to discuss, question and explore ideas aloud before writing.
Spelling
Accurate spelling supports confident writing. We teach spelling systematically across all year groups, focussing on:
- Spelling rules and patterns
- Word structure (morphology)
- Word origins (etymology)
- Memory strategies such as syllable breaking, mnemonics and word families.
Our aim is for children to be accurate, curious and creative spellers who use words thoughtfully and precisely.
Speaking & Listening (Oracy)
At Francis Baily, spoken language is the foundation for learning and relationships. We teach pupils to:
- Speak clearly and confidently in a range of situations
- Listen actively and respond thoughtfully
- Ask questions and build on others’ ideas
- Use ambitious and precise vocabulary
- Adapt their speech for different audiences and purposes.
Oracy is embedded through:
- Class discussions and debates
- Drama, storytelling and performance
- Structured group talk and presentations that develop communication skills.
When children can talk about their learning, they can write about it… and when they learn to listen, they learn to understand.
English as an Additional Language
We celebrate the diversity of languages spoken at Francis Baily. For pupils learning English as an additional language (EAL), we provide:
- Tailored support within lessons
- Additional resources and scaffolding
- Strategies for developing vocabulary and grammar
- Opportunities to share and celebrate their home languages.
For more details, please see our separate English as an Additional Language page.
To explore how English is taught in each year group, please click on the relevant links below: