North Worcester Primary Academy
English
Reading and Writing at North Worcester
Inspiring readers, empowering writers and developing a lifelong love of learning.
At NWPA, we believe that reading and writing are at the heart of everything we do. We want every child to discover the magic of a brilliant book, experience the joy of getting lost in a story and feel the excitement of bringing their own ideas to life through writing. Our ambition is simple: to nurture confident, enthusiastic readers and writers who develop a genuine love of language, literature and learning that lasts a lifetime.
Our English curriculum is built around CUSP (Curriculum with Unity Schools Partnership), an ambitious and carefully sequenced approach to reading and writing that places high-quality children's literature at its heart. Through a rich and diverse collection of carefully chosen texts, our children encounter exciting stories, fascinating characters, inspiring authors and thought-provoking ideas. These books open windows into different worlds, cultures and experiences, whilst helping children make meaningful connections with their own lives and the wider curriculum.
Developing a Love of Reading
We believe that every child deserves to see themselves as a reader. Reading is more than a skill to be mastered; it is a gateway to imagination, knowledge, empathy and opportunity.
Through CUSP Reading, children explore high-quality texts in depth, developing their vocabulary, comprehension and ability to think critically about what they read. Our carefully structured lessons encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, explore characters and discover the deeper meanings within stories.
But our love of reading extends far beyond the classroom. We celebrate books, share stories, encourage reading for pleasure and create opportunities for children to discover authors and genres that capture their imagination. We want books to become treasured companions and reading to be something our children choose to do, not simply something they are asked to do.
Growing Confident, Creative Writers
At NWPA, we believe that every child has a voice, every child has something worth saying and every child deserves to experience the joy of writing.
Through CUSP Writing, children develop the knowledge, vocabulary and skills to communicate with clarity, creativity and purpose. Our carefully sequenced curriculum builds progressively on what children already know, giving them the confidence to experiment with language, craft their ideas and develop their own unique writing styles.
High-quality texts provide inspiration and powerful models of language, allowing children to learn from accomplished authors whilst discovering the possibilities of their own writing.
We believe that writing should always be meaningful. Children are encouraged to write for real purposes and audiences, understanding that their words have the power to entertain, inform, persuade, inspire and make a difference. Whether crafting an imaginative story, sharing an opinion, writing to someone in their community or communicating their learning, we want children to understand not just how to write, but why we write.
Above all, we want our children to love writing. We nurture creativity, celebrate individuality and encourage children to take ownership of their work, make thoughtful choices and feel proud of what they achieve. By providing purposeful, engaging opportunities to write, we aim to develop young authors who are motivated to put pen to paper, confident in expressing themselves and excited by the possibilities of the written word.
Building Foundations for Lifelong Learning
Reading and writing are so much more than curriculum subjects; they are the foundations of communication, creativity, curiosity and lifelong learning.
By combining ambitious teaching, inspiring literature and meaningful opportunities to read and write, we aim to give every child the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to succeed, both in school and beyond.
We want our children to leave NWPA not only equipped with the skills to read and write successfully, but with the curiosity to keep discovering, the confidence to share their ideas and the passion to continue learning throughout their lives.
At NWPA, we don't just teach children to read and write. We inspire them to love reading, find joy and purpose in writing, and become confident, curious learners for life.
Spelling is taught through Read Write Inc for children participating in phonics and through Spelling Seeds from Literacy Curriculum afterwards. Children are therefore exposed to spellings in meaningful contexts instead of standalone spelling tests once a week. Handwriting is taught through Nelson’s handwriting and daily modelling and practice. This ensures children have a clear progression from initial letter formation during Read Write Inc in reception through to year 6.
Free Online Story Books
To promote a love of reading here are some websites you can read fantastic stories together.
They are compatiable with IPADS and Tablets
Phonics and writing online games
At North Worcester phonics is taught using the Read Write Inc (RWI) scheme which helps children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling.
Here are games that are widely used to practise phonics skills. The levels/phases do not link directly to the RWI scheme that we use. However practice we encourage along side daily reading with your child.
When playing these games -
- Phase 1 develops listening and matching skills - Pre-School Level
- Phase 2 introduces some Set 1 sounds and blending - Reception Class Level
- Phases 3-5 introduces the remaining Set 1 sounds and Sets 2-3 sounds - End of reception class into Key stage 1.