INTENT 

At Aston Rowant, we intend for every child to: 

• Become a fluent, confident reader who loves books 
• Develop a rich vocabulary that allows them to communicate clearly 
• Write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences 
• Speak with confidence, clarity and expression 
• Develop creativity, imagination and critical thinking 
• See reading and writing as essential tools for life 
• Experience success regardless of starting point, need or background 

Our English curriculum is built around high‑quality texts that inspire curiosity and promote the values of Gratitude, Resilience, Outreach, Wonder, Trust and Harmony. 

IMPLEMENTATION 

We deliver English through: 

1. High‑Quality Texts 

Our reading spine exposes children to wide and diverse literature: classics, poetry, contemporary books, non‑fiction and global stories. 

2. Systematic Phonics & Early Reading 

Phonics is taught daily in EYFS/KS1 through a structured, progressive programme, with rapid intervention for any child falling behind. 

3. Reading for Pleasure 

We promote a strong culture of reading through: 

• Daily story time 
• Book corners 
• Book swaps 
• Reading buddies 
• Mystery/masked readers (hugely loved by children)  
• Author studies 
• Author visits 
• Special themed weeks 
• World Book Day is central to celebrating reading joy. 

Children tell us: 

“Now I want to try new books, not just the ones I always choose.”  

“This day shows how fun learning can be.”  

4. Writing Through Real Purpose 

Writing is taught through meaningful contexts linked to core texts, experiences, drama, topic learning and real audiences. 

5. Vocabulary Rich Curriculum 

Explicit vocabulary teaching, discussions, drama, reading aloud and word‑building activities. 

6. Oracy at the Heart 

Children rehearse ideas out loud, debate, perform, retell and participate actively in learning. 

7. Inclusion & Adaptive Teaching 

All pupils succeed through: 

• Scaffolds 
• Shared and modelled writing 
• Vocabulary support 
• Sentence stems for oracy 
• Careful adaptations for SEND 

IMPACT 

We measure impact through: 

• Fluency assessments and phonics screening 
• Comprehension outcomes 
• High‑quality writing 
• Rich vocabulary 
• Confident verbal communication 
• Pupil voice:  

“Books can take you anywhere.”  

“It was the best day - we made poems in so many different ways!”  

• A strong reading culture visible across the school 
• Children leaving KS2 as confident, expressive, reflective readers & writers