At St. Paul’s First School we believe that Literacy is a fundamental life skill. Language is inextricably bound up with all the learning in our school. It is important for our children to master basic language skills to:
It is vital that the “language development” is planned and organised in such a way to provide an educational programme which is as consistent as possible for each child throughout the school and through which all children have opportunities to develop their language skills, concepts, attitudes and usages to the maximum. It is our philosophy that teachers are positive role models in achieving this.
The emphasis in our teaching of English is on having respect for and building upon all of the children’s home experiences and language. We intend to develop and extend this via a safe, secure and stimulating environment where children are motivated, enabling them to achieve their potential in the areas of Literacy regardless of their gender or ethnic or social background.
Basic skills are the key to learning. At St. Paul’s First School we recognise that all subjects in the curriculum can be used to develop and nurture these necessary skills. We aim to incorporate the teaching of Basic Skills throughout the curriculum in order to enable St. Paul’s children to acquire the ability to read, write and speak English and use Mathematics at a level necessary to function at work and society in general.
English is taught as a stand-alone subject daily for at least 1 hour in each Key Stage. In addition to this, the children in Year 1 receive a daily Phonics lesson . Reading lessons also take place each week with. Spelling lessons take place four times a week using the Read Write Inc. Spelling Programme. Handwriting lessons using the MSL Scheme also take place four times a week.
In addition to these specific English based lessons, cross curricular activities also serve as a way to practise and embed literacy skills.
‘Books for Topics’ have put together a list of 50 recommended books for children in each year group.
As parents and teachers, we know how important it is to foster a love of reading in children from a young age. Reading with very young children not only helps with language development but also encourages imagination and creativity. So, if you’re a parent looking for what you should read with your children, look no further than this list. Whether you are looking for classic tales, funny read-alouds, new releases or educational reads, they have something to suit every young reader’s interests. The booklist includes both fiction and non-fiction recommendations to read with children in these age groups to develop their vocabulary, comprehension skills and creativity.
The reading lists are handpicked by experts, ensuring that you’ll find the best quality and age-appropriate books to engage and delight your child.
50 Recommended Books for Nursery
50 Recommended Books for Reception
50 Recommended Books for Year 1
50 Recommended Books for Year 2
SUAT supports and leads in the set-up of new academies joining the partnership. The services provided by the central support function cover both educational and non-educational support. In terms of educational support, SUAT is linked to the School of Education of Staffordshire University, which is an outstanding ITT provider.