At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we are dedicated to delivering a high-quality English curriculum that equips our children with the tools they need to become confident and successful readers and writers, fostering a deep love and understanding of the English language. Our approach to teaching writing is both creative and inspiring, ensuring that children are engaged and motivated through carefully selected picture books, texts, and visual media that bring the subject to life. Each unit of work is thoughtfully planned to align with these resources, encouraging cross-curricular links and enriching children’s English skills.

At St Joseph’s, we believe that immersing children in a rich reading environment is essential to their development. Across all areas of the curriculum, we provide opportunities for children to explore a diverse range of high-quality texts, supporting word recognition, comprehension, and vocabulary growth. We take pride in fostering a strong reading culture among both children and staff, ensuring that the joy of reading is central to our school community.

To develop and nurture writing, we use a structured and engaging approach where the writing process is taught explicitly and in a supportive, positive environment. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) program to build children’s phonics skills, helping them to read fluently and with understanding. Through these phonics lessons, children learn to form letters correctly, spell accurately, and develop their ability to compose ideas step by step.

At St Joseph’s, we are committed to providing an enriching and supportive environment that helps every child flourish in their reading and writing journey, empowering them to achieve their full potential and instilling a lifelong love of the English language.

Our English Subject Leader is Emma Morgan.