English

English at Darnhall Primary School 

At Darnhall Primary School, the development of English skills is crucial to all areas of the curriculum. We believe good literacy skills are the fundamental building blocks towards academic and social success. 

Ready Steady Write

Ready Steady Read

Here at Darnhall Primary School, we believe that reading is the cornerstone of all learning and a gateway to endless adventures. We are delighted to be using the Ready Steady Read Together scheme from Literacy Counts, a dynamic and evidence-based programme designed to foster a deep and lasting love of reading in our youngest learners.

What is Ready Steady Read Together?

Ready Steady Read Together is far more than just a reading scheme; it is a holistic approach to early literacy. The programme is built on the understanding that children learn best when they are engaged, inspired, and sharing the experience with others. It focuses on developing not just the technical skills of reading, but also a genuine passion for stories and books.

Our Aims for Your Child

Through this programme, we aim to:

• Build Core Reading Skills: Develop essential phonic knowledge, fluency, and comprehension in a structured and supportive way.

• Spark a Lifelong Love of Literature: Immerse children in a rich world of high-quality, diverse texts that capture their imagination.

• Develop Confident and Enthusiastic Readers: Create a positive and rewarding reading experience that builds self-esteem and a 'can-do' attitude.

• Strengthen the Home-School Partnership: Provide a clear and supportive structure for reading at home, making it an enjoyable shared activity.

How the Programme Works: A Partnership Between School and Home

The strength of Ready Steady Read Together lies in its clear and collaborative structure:

1. In School: Immersion and Enjoyment
   In the classroom, your child's teacher will introduce a new, carefully selected book each week. Through lively and interactive sessions, the children will:

   • Explore the story, its characters, and its themes.

   • Learn new vocabulary.

   • Practise key reading skills tailored to the text.
     The focus is on building confidence and understanding in a fun, group setting.

2. At Home: Practice and Pride
   The same book your child has enjoyed in class will come home with them. This is their chance to:

   • Show off their skills! They will already be familiar with the story, allowing them to read with greater fluency and confidence.

   • Share their learning with you, strengthening their understanding and pride in their achievement.

   • Enjoy quality time reading together, reinforcing the idea that reading is a pleasurable activity.

This 'see-saw' approach between school and home ensures consistency and builds a powerful momentum in your child's reading journey.

A Rich and Diverse Reading Diet

The Ready Steady Read Together scheme provides a wide range of engaging books, from fiction and non-fiction to poetry and traditional tales. This variety ensures that every child finds stories that resonate with them, broadening their horizons and building a rich and diverse vocabulary.

Working Together

Your role in this partnership is vital. By listening to your child read, talking about the stories, and celebrating their progress, you provide the encouragement that makes all the difference. Together, we can help your child become a confident, happy, and lifelong reader.

We are incredibly excited to be using this programme and look forward to sharing in your child's reading adventures.

Ready Steady Spell

At Darnhall Primary School, we understand that confident spelling is a key component of effective communication and writing. We are proud to use the Ready Steady Spell scheme from Literacy Counts, a structured, fun, and highly effective programme designed to build strong spellers for life.

What is Ready Steady Spell?

Ready Steady Spell is a systematic synthetic phonics-based spelling programme that moves children beyond simply memorising lists of words. Instead, it equips them with the skills and understanding to crack the code of the English language. The programme teaches children why words are spelt the way they are, empowering them to spell with confidence and accuracy in their own writing.

Our Aims for Your Child

Through this progressive scheme, we aim to:

• Build Firm Foundations: Secure essential phonic knowledge and spelling patterns from the earliest stages.

• Develop Independent Spellers: Teach children strategies for spelling unknown words, moving away from reliance on memory alone.

• Demystify English Spelling: Unpack spelling rules, patterns, and conventions in a clear and memorable way.

• Promote a 'Have a Go' Attitude: Create a positive classroom environment where children feel confident to apply their knowledge, learning from their attempts.

• Support Writing Fluency: Enable children to focus on creativity and composition in their writing, without being held back by spelling anxieties.

How the Programme Works: A Cycle of Review, Teach, Practise, Apply

Ready Steady Spell uses a consistent, multi-sensory teaching sequence that helps children deeply embed their learning:

1. Review: Each session begins with a quick, lively review of previously taught patterns and words, ensuring knowledge is kept fresh.

2. Teach: The teacher clearly introduces a new spelling pattern or rule using engaging activities, games, and direct instruction. Children investigate words and discover patterns for themselves.

3. Practise: Children then actively practise the new spelling through a variety of fun, multi-sensory techniques, such as segmenting, building words, and interactive games.

4. Apply: The most crucial step! Children are given opportunities to apply the new spelling in a sentence or short piece of writing, solidifying the link between spelling and meaningful communication.

A 'Little and Often' Approach

Spelling is taught in short, focused daily sessions. This "little and often" approach is proven to be highly effective, allowing children to concentrate fully and repeatedly encounter spelling patterns until they become second nature.

Working Together

While the core teaching happens in school, you can support your child's growing spelling confidence at home by:

• Encouraging a positive attitude towards spelling – praise their 'have a go' attempts!

• Gently pointing out the spelling patterns they are learning in the books you read together.

• Supporting them with any fun, practical spelling activities suggested by the class teacher.

By working in partnership, we can help your child see themselves as a capable and successful speller.

We are thrilled with the progress our pupils are making with the Ready Steady Spell programme and are confident it is providing them with the skills and enthusiasm they need for their lifelong literacy journey.

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