At Rood End we know that strong English skills are key to helping children do well in school and beyond. Our lessons help children gain confidence with reading, writing, spelling, and handwriting right from the start, and make sure every child, including the many who speak English as an additional language, can grow and shine.

From Year 1 to Year 6, we use The Write Stuff approach. It's a fun and clear way to help children understand different types of writing and get excited about telling their own stories and ideas.

For our youngest learners, we use Little Wandle Phonics. This helps children learn the sounds letters make and how to blend them to read and write. We have daily phonics sessions to make sure every child builds a solid foundation.

We know how important it is for children to be physically ready to write. That’s why we:

• Encourage children to write their own name and use it daily on their coat pegs and drawers.
• Have handwriting sessions every morning in Reception.
• Offer lots of playful writing chances during the day, like writing in pretend shops or making marks in different ways.

We also include movement activities to help build up the muscles children need for writing — their shoulders, elbows, and wrists get a good workout! Staff use simple words like round, straight, and dot-dot to help children understand how to form letters, which is especially helpful for our children learning English.

English is more than just a subject—it’s a way for children to open doors to new opportunities. Many of our families face challenges like language barriers and limited experiences, so we’re dedicated to giving every child the tools to communicate clearly and confidently.

Through our English lessons, children build skills that help them both in school and in life, matching our goal to nurture hope and ambition in every child.

We’d love parents and the community to get involved by:

• Encouraging reading and writing at home.
• Joining in with literacy events at school.
• Talking to teachers about how your child is doing.

Together, we can give our children the best start for their future.

At Rood End Primary, we teach English in a way that’s clear, fun, and supportive. Using trusted methods like The Write Stuff and Little Wandle Phonics, we help children become confident readers and writers. We focus on building the skills and strength they need for writing, all while living our values of respect, resilience, inclusivity, teamwork, and honesty. We’re proud to help every child grow and get ready to succeed.