Ivanhoe's Vision for English ♡

At Conisbrough Ivanhoe Primary Academy, we believe that language is the thread connecting everything. English is at the heart of our curriculum because the ability to communicate, read, write, listen and speak with confidence opens doors to learning, opportunity and participation in the wider world.

Our vision is simple:

Confident readers ♥
Purposeful writers ♥
Articulate communicators ♥

We want every child to develop a genuine love of language and literature. From the earliest stories, songs, rhymes and conversations in FS1, through to the increasingly sophisticated reading and writing of Year 6, we provide a rich and language-filled curriculum which builds progressively on children’s knowledge, vocabulary and skills.

We believe that reading is fundamental to success. We aim for our children to become accurate, fluent and confident readers who read easily and with good understanding. We expose children to a wide and ambitious range of high-quality literature, including classic and contemporary fiction, poetry and non-fiction. Our children encounter authors, texts, ideas and experiences that may be unfamiliar to them, alongside books that reflect their own lives and interests.

We want children to develop a lifelong love of reading. Through protected story time, Ivanhoe Books for Pleasure, Book Trees, carefully selected reading materials and opportunities to recommend and discuss books, we aim to develop children who choose to read, read widely and understand the pleasure that books can bring.

Our English curriculum also aims to develop children as purposeful writers. We want pupils to communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly, accurately and creatively, adapting their language and style for different purposes and audiences. Children develop their writing through talk, reading, vocabulary, composition, grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting, learning to edit and improve their work with increasing independence.

We place a strong emphasis on spoken language and vocabulary. We want children to listen carefully, speak confidently and use an increasingly rich vocabulary to express their ideas. Through discussion, storytelling, questioning, reading and the explicit teaching of vocabulary, we help children develop the language they need to think deeply and communicate effectively.

Our choice of texts is deliberate. We want children to encounter a broad range of people, places, cultures, histories, experiences and perspectives, developing their knowledge and understanding of the wider world. Through literature, children can encounter experiences beyond their own, develop curiosity and empathy and build the cultural knowledge and vocabulary needed to participate confidently in society.

We recognise that children arrive at school with different experiences and starting points. Our ambition is that every child becomes a successful reader, writer and communicator, regardless of their starting point. Through high-quality teaching, systematic phonics, targeted support, appropriate challenge and careful assessment, we identify barriers early and work to ensure that every child can make progress and achieve their potential.

We understand that secure English skills are essential not only for success in English itself, but across the whole curriculum and throughout life. The ability to read, understand, communicate and write effectively supports children in their learning, relationships, future education, employment and participation in society.

Ultimately, we want children to leave Ivanhoe with the confidence to read widely, write purposefully, speak articulately and think critically. We want them to carry with them not only the knowledge and skills to succeed in secondary school and beyond but also a genuine curiosity about language, literature and the world around them.

Our five golden threads

Language & Oracy	Rich vocabulary, purposeful talk, listening, discussion, storytelling and opportunities to articulate ideas.
Reading	Phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, wider reading and a genuine love of books.
Writing	Oral composition, sentence construction, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, composition, editing and purpose.
Transcription	Spelling, handwriting and the accurate recording of ideas so that children can write with increasing fluency.
Assessment, Inclusion & Closing Gaps	Responsive assessment, moderation, precise support, appropriate challenge and a relentless focus on helping every child succeed.

Our English journey

English begins in FS1 with language, stories, songs, rhymes, conversation and mark making. In FS2, children move towards early literacy through rich storytelling, Drawing Club, vocabulary development, oral composition and the appropriate introduction of phonics. From Year 1 onwards, systematic phonics, reading, writing, spelling and handwriting develop progressively through the school.

A curriculum designed for our children

Broadening experiences and building cultural capital

We recognise the importance of giving every child opportunities to encounter people, places, cultures, histories, experiences and perspectives beyond their own. Our English curriculum plays an important role in broadening children’s experiences, developing their vocabulary and knowledge, and helping them to understand and appreciate the wider world.

Our Pathways to Write texts are selected carefully to provide rich opportunities for discussion, vocabulary development, cultural understanding and personal, social, moral and cultural development. Through stories, poetry, non-fiction and wider reading, we aim to ensure that children encounter a diverse range of voices, experiences and perspectives and develop the confidence to talk about the world around them.

What we want every child to leave Ivanhoe with

• Confidence to communicate clearly and listen respectfully.
• Secure decoding and increasingly fluent, expressive reading.
• Strong vocabulary and the ability to understand, discuss and apply language.
• The ability to write accurately, creatively and for a range of purposes and audiences.
• Secure spelling, handwriting, grammar and punctuation knowledge.
• A genuine love of reading and the confidence to choose and recommend books.
• The knowledge, resilience and independence to keep improving.

English Lead 2026/27: Louise Davies