An appreciation for rich quality literature is at the heart of our English curriculum, where we deliver the National Curriculum objectives through carefully selected progressive quality texts which form Novel Studies. Novel study is the holistic teaching of the English curriculum by focusing on a novel or text for an extended period of time, allowing considerable in-depth analysis. It immerses children in rich texts, actively promotes a love of reading for pleasure, and teaches children how to write for different purposes. The approach encourages the application of critical and higher order thinking skills through a mixture of learning styles and has a high focus on oracy, language analysis, and sentence and word level choices. As well as teaching the technical aspects of reading and writing, the holistic approach develops children as readers and writers in their own right. Lessons are planned carefully to ensure children learn skills to become confident readers and writers as well as being able to communicate effectively.

At Oxley, we want our pupils to acquire a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar, and be able to spell new words by effectively applying the spelling patterns and rules they learn. We believe that all pupils should be encouraged to take pride in the presentation of their writing, in part by developing a good, joined, handwriting style by the time they move to secondary school.

From the Early Years Foundation Stage through to Year Six, the children are given opportunities to learn about cultural diversities, develop their ability to empathise with others, and build their own curiosity through a wealth of picture books, rich literature, and classic and modern poetry. The English skills of reading, writing, and oracy are also carefully woven into the wider curriculum allowing children to apply skills through forms such as scientific inquiry, debates, speeches, and non-fiction texts.

For more details about our English Curriculum, including our novel studies approach, text type progression and progression of skills for both fiction and non-fiction texts, click on the button below.