Our commitment to early reading, language development & literacy at Gorsemoor 

 

Without a doubt, being brilliant at the basics is our mission and is why reading will always remain an integral part of our curriculum.

 

Being brilliant at the basics begins in our Early Years where we ensure that teaching and play are both highly valued. Reading to our children, teaching phonics well and giving our children time to practise and consolidate their growing knowledge are all staples of our daily routines for our youngest learners. 

 

Language and literacy provide us with the building blocks not just for academic success, but for fulfilling careers and rewarding lives. Consequently, early reading, language development and oracy sit at the heart of our curriculum. 

 

Reading opens the door to children’s early academic success and imparts a love of learning. Numerous studies have shown that strong oral language skills are the basis for literacy development. When children learn to read at an early age, they have greater general knowledge, expand their vocabulary and become more fluent readers. Proficiency in reading enables our children to comprehend more of what they are reading.

 

Only by mastering effective reading strategies can children access the necessary knowledge and information, which will enable them to excel scholastically in the future. Early readers not only become lifelong readers, but also lifelong learners.

In terms of our pupils’ personal development, reading promotes greater maturity, increases discipline and lays the basis for moral literacy. It sparks curiosity about people, places and things and also satisfies the child's curiosity by providing explanations of how things work. It exposes the child to a range of problem-solving techniques. In addition, early reading ignites the child's creativity and imagination.

 

We facilitate many reading experiences for all children throughout the curriculum and encourage children to see reading as a source of enjoyment and information. Our children are initially taught systematic synthetic phonics which is built on by each year group as fluency and comprehension skills develop.  Each class uses a variety of rich and carefully chosen texts to inspire enquiring minds and enhance other reading skills, such as, inference and deduction.

 

We are part of the Voice 21 National Oracy Pioneers Programme. It is our ambition to provide a high-quality oracy and literacy education which will increase our pupils’ confidence, improve academic outcomes, foster well-being and narrow gaps for disadvantaged pupils.

 

Oracy increases confidence: empowering pupils with belief that their voice has value, developing the ability to articulate thoughts so others will listen.

 

Oracy improves academic outcomes: developing learners who can think critically, reason together and have the vocabulary to express their knowledge and understanding.

 

Oracy fosters wellbeing: supporting pupils to build successful relationships, talk through issues, express feelings and resolve conflicts.

 

Oracy equips pupils to thrive in life beyond school: helping them to progress, access employment and engage in civic life.

Oracy narrows gaps: enabling disadvantage pupils to fulfill their potential.

 

Oracy improves social equity: leading to fairer society where everyone, regardless of their background, finds their voice for success in school and in life.