Writing

At Leatherhead Trinity, the children are given opportunities to discuss and plan a range of genres in writing.  For example, pupils are encouraged to write stories, poems and reports. Challenging guided reading texts are used in every class to broaden pupils' perspectives and extend their vocabulary choice.  We encourage pupils to write for a variety of purposes and different audiences.  Spellings are an important aspect of the writing process where pupils learn the appropriate spelling rules for their year group.  Pupils are given appropriate practice in developing a good cursive style of handwriting and are encouraged to present their work neatly and carefully.  Throughout the process of writing, teachers will regularly model features and clearly set high expectations.  We as a school recognise the value of modelling as it makes expectations very clear to children and provides them with a structure to support their own writing. You can find our writing progression grids at the bottom of the page. 

Read Write Inc is our phonics programme for Key Stage 1 and is used for some children further up the school if there is a need.  It is a very successful programme that uses resources aimed at the child's exact reading level.  Read Write Inc lessons also include spelling, handwriting and other writing skills. Phonics

Speaking and Listening 

Speaking and listening is a large part of our literacy curriculum, and children also have lots of opportunities to learn skills in this area across the curriculum too. Our literacy learning journeys always include an element of speaking and listening- this might be a drama activity, debate or discussion. 

A large number of our staff are ELKLAN trained and these strategies are used across the curriculum to promote children's speaking and listening skills. A number of interventions are in place across the school too to support children if this is an area of learning that they find more difficult. 

Reading

At Leatherhead Trinity we believe reading is the key to unlocking learning across the entire curriculum. Therefore, we provide the children with as many opportunities as possible to engage with reading, including daily guided reading sessions, story-time sessions, visiting authors, volunteer readers, library time, daily reading at home and reading across our wider curriculum subjects.

Guided reading is an integral part of our learning day. Every child from Year 2 upwards focuses on one quality text per term that exposes them to challenging vocabulary; modelled comprehension and reading skills, that they might not otherwise be able to access on their own. The chosen text links with their current topic work providing extra background knowledge to further their reading enjoyment; and at least one literacy learning journey is linked to the text each term, improving the quality of a child’s writing.

Research has shown that reading for pleasure at an early age has a major impact on a child’s future, both intellectually and socio-economically. At Leatherhead Trinity, we are constantly looking for opportunities to read. Every year group has a weekly session in our fantastic library and each child is encouraged to borrow a wide variety of books. Every child has a daily reading book to take home and read with parents/carers. Every classroom has a reading area stocked with carefully selected books that challenge and encourage reading, including displays linked to topics and teacher suggested texts.

Reading Spines 

Our reading spines are core books for each year group. They are a store of classics (old and gold) and essential reads that help children engage at a deeper level and enter the world of the story as well as non-fiction. We also immerse children in new authors and texts in our 'new and bold' reads. You can find our year group readings spines as the bottom of this page. 

The Library 

Our School Library was refurbished in 2019 and is used daily. We have a bright and welcoming environment with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. We also have special featured sections where we promote our authors of the half-term, Black History month texts, science week texts and our new graphic novel section.