Burpham Primary School
English at Burpham
Through Phonics, we learn the tools to help us read for our own comfort and enjoyment. When we read, we learn about our world but also enrich our imagination.
In Writing, we learn how to tell stories and to write for different purposes.
At Burpham, we recognise that the ability to communicate is fundamental to learning. Our aim is to provide a high quality education in English, through a broad and rich curriculum, that will stimulate and support pupils to read, write and speak fluently. We provide an environment that is rich in language and develops a love of literature in order to ensure that the pupils develop the cultural capital needed to excel.
Please find below further information about the breakdown of the English curriculum at Burpham Primary School.
"I love reading it makes me happy and you learn lots of sounds and words and it is my best thing to do in the whole wide world" (Alex Y1)
Intent, Implementation, Impact
Speaking and Listening
|
Intent |
Implementation |
Impact |
|
To develop our children’s ability to communicate effectively with confidence and enthusiasm |
|
|
|
To listen meaningfully, to weigh ideas and form opinions, having considered a variety of situations from a wider perspective |
|
|
|
To encourage an active and lively interest in vocabulary and to challenge children to be adventurous in their choice of words |
|
|
Reading and Phonics
|
To create a rich reading environment which encourages children to develop a love of literature from their heritage as well as other traditions and cultures |
|
|
|
To be discerning in their choice of reading matter and to develop their ability to be critical of texts in a positive way and to encourage familiarity with a range of significant authors and illustrators |
|
|
|
To be able to apply the phonic code when reading in addition to recognising when it is easier to use whole work approach (for HRS Words) |
|
|
Writing
|
To adapt their speech and writing to a widening range of purposes and audiences |
|
|
|
To present writing of a high standard which demonstrates an understanding of grammar, correct spelling, legible handwriting and where appropriate, the use of technology |
|
|
|
To provide more opportunities for independent writing tasks |
|
|
|
To foster a desire in children to evaluate, edit and improve their work and to develop independent strategies to allow them to do this but also to recognise when, where and how to seek advice from others |
|
|
|
To ensure that children are exposed to a rich and diverse vocabulary |
|
|
...
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Intent Implementation and Impact.docx | .docx |
Phonics
Our school teaches children to read through the ELS programme (Essential Letters and Sounds). The approach enables our children to learn to read using a systematic synthetic phonics approach. It is designed to be part of a learning environment that is rich in talk and story, where children experience the joy of books and language whilst rapidly acquiring the skills to become fluent independent readers.
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Phonics for parents.pptx | .pptx | ||
| Phonics at Burpham.pdf | |||
| ELS sounds mat.pdf |
Reading
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Reading at Burpham.pdf |
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for Pleasure
'Reading for pleasure is the single, most important indicator of a child's future success'
(OECD, 2022)
'Becoming a lifetime reader is predicated on developing a love of reading'
(Sanacore, 2002)
Recent studies showed that England had the lowest ranking for enjoyment and (except Australia) the lowest for pupil engagement in reading (PIRLS 2017).
At Burpham we are passionate about putting the pleasure back into reading. Our current Reading for Pleasure action plan sets out how we are working with the school community to ensure that we promote the benefit of reading for well-being:
- helps relaxation
- aids happiness
- provides entertainment
- provides comfort and reassurance
...but that we also value reading in a learning environment because it:
- increases vocabulary
- increases general knowledge
- enriches imagination
- improves creativity
- supports narrative writing
Current projects in planning are 'Community Reads'' and developing a 'Book Swap' program across our school.
Our English subject lead is currently part of the English Hubs TSRC project (Transforming School's Reading Culture). This is an evidence-based leadership program for primary English Leads.
Lucy Reynolds, author of The Thousand Year Tree, visits Burpham
This spring, the children in Year 3 and Year 4 had a hugely inspiring workshop with the author, Lucy Reynolds. Lucy has been working with a local school to produce a book working alongside the Surrey Hills Society. She talked about how important it was that we respect the trees in our environment and gave us lots of ideas on how we can all do this. Follow this link to find out more https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/projects/the-thousand-year-tree/
As well as reading her book to the children, she worked with them to produce an acrostic poem (see below). The children were thrilled with how quickly they were able to work together to put together a poem with so much meaning and emotion. Lots of wonderful inspiration -many thanks Lucy!
Reading Club for Year 3
This term we have been delighted to welcome visitors from Guildford High School each week to come to read with our Year 3 children. After exploring our own individual reading identities, we shared these with our visitors. They had also done the same activity so we could share our thoughts about reading with them too!
We meet each lunchtime for half an hour to read a specially selected set of Reading Club books 1:1 with our visitors. We have held special sessions to explore Biographies and also a day to find our favourite poem!
National Poetry Day -Autumn 2024
We are seeing a growing enthusiasm across the school for Poetry! Our National Poetry Day assembly gave the children an opportunity to learn a poem 'by heart'!
We read W.B. Yeats 'He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven' and in 10 minutes, gave the children all the prompts and visual clues to enable them to try to learn it off by heart. I've been bowled over by the number of children who have asked for additional copies to help them to remember the poem -but also who have wanted to come and perform it!
The children had the opportunity at lunchtime to eat with a poem- as did the staff in the staffroom!
Brilliant Book Awards 2024
This year Burpham Primary School was invited to attend the Brilliant Book Awards held at Guildford High School and organised by The West Surrey Partnership.
Our Y2,3,4,5 and 6 Reading Ambassadors spent the morning entertained by presenter Jack Meggit-Philips, author of beastly books such as The Revenge of the Beast, The Beast and Bethany and other brilliant books in the same series. Other shortlisted authors attended remotely and we were able to learn a lot about they gathered their inspiration for writing. Once of the authors, Alice Ross, who wrote The Nowhere Thief, was interviewed by Jack Meggit-Philips and some of our Reading Ambassadors had questions for her also!
For further information about the shortlisted authors please follow this link https://www.brilliantbookawards.org.uk/about-the-authors
We all had a fabulous morning!
World Book Day 2024
For this year's World Book Day, we had a Poetry theme.
We held 2 main events - the children were invited to enter a poetry competition to write their own poetry and we had some fantastic entries from across the school. We are currently compiling these into a Burpham World Book Day Poetry book!
Our second event was very popular with children from Reception through to Y6. Even the adults joined in!
The children were invited to write or print a Poem for their Pocket. They could then wear a sticker prompting others to challenge them to ask them to read it! The picture below shows the winning poets -some with their 'Ask me about the Poem in my Pocket' sticker!
Reading Ambassadors
This year we have selected our first Reading Ambassadors. Our Reading Ambassadors promise to help to foster a love of reading within their class.
Last term, the Reading Ambassadors supported each other to monitor their own class book corners, ensuring they continue to be inviting places from which their friends can easily select books to enjoy. This term, they are working on activities that we can do during the next World Book Week.
This Spring, the Reading Ambassadors are each choosing their favourite poem to display on the Reading Ambassadors noticeboard. Children are invited to 'P-P-P-P-ick up a Poem' and take home a paper copy!
New for 2024! -Reading Cafe
This term, we are introducing our Reading Cafe as an event to promote the joy of reading within our school community. Parents and grandparents were invited to attend a short phonics update meeting in the hall before visiting the Y1 Reading Cafe. Chef Danny kindly cooked cookies for the visitors and together with fruit snacks and fruit flavoured water, our guests got a taste of our super new books!
.....Reviews of the books were left on 'Book Advisor!'
Look our for further pop up Reading Cafes -coming to a year group near you!
Book Swaps!
Our school has begun to incorporate regular Book Swaps into our calendar1
Children are invited to donate up to 3 books to the Swap. In return, they receive a Book Swap Token that entitled them to 'purchase' 1 book from the Swap. They have the chance to explore the books more closely in the days before their Swap and to narrow their favorites list down to 3. For the Y3 class above, the children met in the hall for a last view before being invited up to make their selection. There was much excitement and 'Book Blather' in the hall both before and after!
In addition, the team got another opportunity to discuss with the children about the types of books that they enjoyed. They can use this information to guide them when choosing class reads, but also when selecting books for their class library.
Community Reads
Last year, we introduced our first Community Reads
The children spend 20 mins a week in a small group sharing one of 10 amazing picture books. To help share the texts we invited members of our wider school community to read with us. Each session starts with a quick look at any interesting words and sessions then end with an opportunity to compare the new book with others that the children have enjoyed during previous reads. Huge thanks to all the friends who have helped with the project!
Lunchtime book club
Our KS1 book club takes place on a Tuesday lunchtime.
We began with the book 'Flat Stanley' by Jeff Brown. It made us think of all the good things we could do if we were very flat- like play the best Hide and Seek games!
After our read, the children enjoyed making pictures of their own 'flat' selves. They took them home to explore what they could do 'flat!'.
Spoken Language
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Spoken language at Burpham.pdf |
Parrots - Story of the week…..
Writing - including handwriting and spelling
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Writing at Burpham.pdf |
Learning beyond the classroom
The Y1 children used the school environment to collect resources to illustrate the adjectives they had been exploring.
Writing for a purpose
These Y1 children used their writing skills to create an 'exhibition' of treasured toys as part of their 'How have Toys Changed over time?' history topic. The children then 'visited their friends toys and read further about why they were so special.
Burpham Primary School
English at Burpham
Through Phonics, we learn the tools to help us read for our own comfort and enjoyment. When we read, we learn about our world but also enrich our imagination.
In Writing, we learn how to tell stories and to write for different purposes.
At Burpham, we recognise that the ability to communicate is fundamental to learning. Our aim is to provide a high quality education in English, through a broad and rich curriculum, that will stimulate and support pupils to read, write and speak fluently. We provide an environment that is rich in language and develops a love of literature in order to ensure that the pupils develop the cultural capital needed to excel.
Please find below further information about the breakdown of the English curriculum at Burpham Primary School.
"I love reading it makes me happy and you learn lots of sounds and words and it is my best thing to do in the whole wide world" (Alex Y1)
Intent, Implementation, Impact
Speaking and Listening
|
Intent |
Implementation |
Impact |
|
To develop our children’s ability to communicate effectively with confidence and enthusiasm |
|
|
|
To listen meaningfully, to weigh ideas and form opinions, having considered a variety of situations from a wider perspective |
|
|
|
To encourage an active and lively interest in vocabulary and to challenge children to be adventurous in their choice of words |
|
|
Reading and Phonics
|
To create a rich reading environment which encourages children to develop a love of literature from their heritage as well as other traditions and cultures |
|
|
|
To be discerning in their choice of reading matter and to develop their ability to be critical of texts in a positive way and to encourage familiarity with a range of significant authors and illustrators |
|
|
|
To be able to apply the phonic code when reading in addition to recognising when it is easier to use whole work approach (for HRS Words) |
|
|
Writing
|
To adapt their speech and writing to a widening range of purposes and audiences |
|
|
|
To present writing of a high standard which demonstrates an understanding of grammar, correct spelling, legible handwriting and where appropriate, the use of technology |
|
|
|
To provide more opportunities for independent writing tasks |
|
|
|
To foster a desire in children to evaluate, edit and improve their work and to develop independent strategies to allow them to do this but also to recognise when, where and how to seek advice from others |
|
|
|
To ensure that children are exposed to a rich and diverse vocabulary |
|
|
...
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Intent Implementation and Impact.docx | .docx |
Phonics
Our school teaches children to read through the ELS programme (Essential Letters and Sounds). The approach enables our children to learn to read using a systematic synthetic phonics approach. It is designed to be part of a learning environment that is rich in talk and story, where children experience the joy of books and language whilst rapidly acquiring the skills to become fluent independent readers.
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Phonics for parents.pptx | .pptx | ||
| Phonics at Burpham.pdf | |||
| ELS sounds mat.pdf |
Reading
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Reading at Burpham.pdf |
Reading for Pleasure
Reading for Pleasure
'Reading for pleasure is the single, most important indicator of a child's future success'
(OECD, 2022)
'Becoming a lifetime reader is predicated on developing a love of reading'
(Sanacore, 2002)
Recent studies showed that England had the lowest ranking for enjoyment and (except Australia) the lowest for pupil engagement in reading (PIRLS 2017).
At Burpham we are passionate about putting the pleasure back into reading. Our current Reading for Pleasure action plan sets out how we are working with the school community to ensure that we promote the benefit of reading for well-being:
- helps relaxation
- aids happiness
- provides entertainment
- provides comfort and reassurance
...but that we also value reading in a learning environment because it:
- increases vocabulary
- increases general knowledge
- enriches imagination
- improves creativity
- supports narrative writing
Current projects in planning are 'Community Reads'' and developing a 'Book Swap' program across our school.
Our English subject lead is currently part of the English Hubs TSRC project (Transforming School's Reading Culture). This is an evidence-based leadership program for primary English Leads.
Lucy Reynolds, author of The Thousand Year Tree, visits Burpham
This spring, the children in Year 3 and Year 4 had a hugely inspiring workshop with the author, Lucy Reynolds. Lucy has been working with a local school to produce a book working alongside the Surrey Hills Society. She talked about how important it was that we respect the trees in our environment and gave us lots of ideas on how we can all do this. Follow this link to find out more https://www.surreyhillssociety.org/projects/the-thousand-year-tree/
As well as reading her book to the children, she worked with them to produce an acrostic poem (see below). The children were thrilled with how quickly they were able to work together to put together a poem with so much meaning and emotion. Lots of wonderful inspiration -many thanks Lucy!
Reading Club for Year 3
This term we have been delighted to welcome visitors from Guildford High School each week to come to read with our Year 3 children. After exploring our own individual reading identities, we shared these with our visitors. They had also done the same activity so we could share our thoughts about reading with them too!
We meet each lunchtime for half an hour to read a specially selected set of Reading Club books 1:1 with our visitors. We have held special sessions to explore Biographies and also a day to find our favourite poem!
National Poetry Day -Autumn 2024
We are seeing a growing enthusiasm across the school for Poetry! Our National Poetry Day assembly gave the children an opportunity to learn a poem 'by heart'!
We read W.B. Yeats 'He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven' and in 10 minutes, gave the children all the prompts and visual clues to enable them to try to learn it off by heart. I've been bowled over by the number of children who have asked for additional copies to help them to remember the poem -but also who have wanted to come and perform it!
The children had the opportunity at lunchtime to eat with a poem- as did the staff in the staffroom!
Brilliant Book Awards 2024
This year Burpham Primary School was invited to attend the Brilliant Book Awards held at Guildford High School and organised by The West Surrey Partnership.
Our Y2,3,4,5 and 6 Reading Ambassadors spent the morning entertained by presenter Jack Meggit-Philips, author of beastly books such as The Revenge of the Beast, The Beast and Bethany and other brilliant books in the same series. Other shortlisted authors attended remotely and we were able to learn a lot about they gathered their inspiration for writing. Once of the authors, Alice Ross, who wrote The Nowhere Thief, was interviewed by Jack Meggit-Philips and some of our Reading Ambassadors had questions for her also!
For further information about the shortlisted authors please follow this link https://www.brilliantbookawards.org.uk/about-the-authors
We all had a fabulous morning!
World Book Day 2024
For this year's World Book Day, we had a Poetry theme.
We held 2 main events - the children were invited to enter a poetry competition to write their own poetry and we had some fantastic entries from across the school. We are currently compiling these into a Burpham World Book Day Poetry book!
Our second event was very popular with children from Reception through to Y6. Even the adults joined in!
The children were invited to write or print a Poem for their Pocket. They could then wear a sticker prompting others to challenge them to ask them to read it! The picture below shows the winning poets -some with their 'Ask me about the Poem in my Pocket' sticker!
Reading Ambassadors
This year we have selected our first Reading Ambassadors. Our Reading Ambassadors promise to help to foster a love of reading within their class.
Last term, the Reading Ambassadors supported each other to monitor their own class book corners, ensuring they continue to be inviting places from which their friends can easily select books to enjoy. This term, they are working on activities that we can do during the next World Book Week.
This Spring, the Reading Ambassadors are each choosing their favourite poem to display on the Reading Ambassadors noticeboard. Children are invited to 'P-P-P-P-ick up a Poem' and take home a paper copy!
New for 2024! -Reading Cafe
This term, we are introducing our Reading Cafe as an event to promote the joy of reading within our school community. Parents and grandparents were invited to attend a short phonics update meeting in the hall before visiting the Y1 Reading Cafe. Chef Danny kindly cooked cookies for the visitors and together with fruit snacks and fruit flavoured water, our guests got a taste of our super new books!
.....Reviews of the books were left on 'Book Advisor!'
Look our for further pop up Reading Cafes -coming to a year group near you!
Book Swaps!
Our school has begun to incorporate regular Book Swaps into our calendar1
Children are invited to donate up to 3 books to the Swap. In return, they receive a Book Swap Token that entitled them to 'purchase' 1 book from the Swap. They have the chance to explore the books more closely in the days before their Swap and to narrow their favorites list down to 3. For the Y3 class above, the children met in the hall for a last view before being invited up to make their selection. There was much excitement and 'Book Blather' in the hall both before and after!
In addition, the team got another opportunity to discuss with the children about the types of books that they enjoyed. They can use this information to guide them when choosing class reads, but also when selecting books for their class library.
Community Reads
Last year, we introduced our first Community Reads
The children spend 20 mins a week in a small group sharing one of 10 amazing picture books. To help share the texts we invited members of our wider school community to read with us. Each session starts with a quick look at any interesting words and sessions then end with an opportunity to compare the new book with others that the children have enjoyed during previous reads. Huge thanks to all the friends who have helped with the project!
Lunchtime book club
Our KS1 book club takes place on a Tuesday lunchtime.
We began with the book 'Flat Stanley' by Jeff Brown. It made us think of all the good things we could do if we were very flat- like play the best Hide and Seek games!
After our read, the children enjoyed making pictures of their own 'flat' selves. They took them home to explore what they could do 'flat!'.
Spoken Language
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Spoken language at Burpham.pdf |
Parrots - Story of the week…..
Writing - including handwriting and spelling
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Writing at Burpham.pdf |
Learning beyond the classroom
The Y1 children used the school environment to collect resources to illustrate the adjectives they had been exploring.
Writing for a purpose
These Y1 children used their writing skills to create an 'exhibition' of treasured toys as part of their 'How have Toys Changed over time?' history topic. The children then 'visited their friends toys and read further about why they were so special.