The importance of English as a foundation subject is all too clear. Those who benefit from a quality education in English from primary school onwards will be equipped with the skills needed to thrive and succeed as they progress through the various stages of learning and beyond. Additionally, the subject has, as the government notes, a “preeminent place in society” as well.

After all, English empowers pupils with the ability to speak and write fluently, so that they are more than capable of communicating their ideas and emotions to others, while developing reading and listening skills allows them to effectively understand what is being said to them.

This guide gives you an overview of the key developments that have taken place in the national curriculum for English at primary school level (Key Stage One and Two), so that come delivery of the subject, you will be able to cover all the essentials in a fun, creative and engaging way.

Speaking

The curriculum has been developed further to reflect the importance of spoken language “cognitively, socially and linguistically”.

Exposure to high quality and varied forms of language – in terms of what is heard and what is spoken is – is fundamental to expanding the vocabulary of children. It also serves as a springboard for enhanced reading and writing.

As a teacher, it is important you nurture confidence and competence in spoken language and in listening skills.

According to the government, this will ensure that students can explain there understanding of written materials and imbue them with the aptitude to successfully “prepare ideas before they write”.

You are required to help them “think clearly to themselves and others”, as well as assist them in building “secure foundations by using discussion to probe and remedy their misconceptions”. Complementing this is an understanding of the conventions for good debate and discussion.

“All pupils should be enabled to participate in and gain knowledge, skills and understanding associated with the artistic practice of drama,” the new curriculum outlines.

“Pupils should be able to adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role. They should have opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences.”

Writing

Writing is based around two areas of study. This includes transcription – spelling and handwriting – and composition – articulating ideas and structuring them in writing (and speech).

Both areas need equal weight in the classroom and you are tasked with delivering a solid level of competence across both disciplines.

Supplementary to that is making sure children can plan, revise and evaluate their own writing.

Effective transcription is key to when it comes to writing ideas down in an understandable fashion – i.e. fluently.

As such, your pupils need to demonstrate an ability to spell quickly and accurately, appreciate the relationship between sound and letters (phonics) and understand word structure (morphology) and spelling structure (orthography).

“Effective composition involves forming, articulating and communicating ideas, and then organising them coherently for a reader,” the Department for Education has stated.

“This requires clarity, awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Writing also depends on fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting.”

Reading

Reading is now focused on what is known as “the simple view”. This includes two dimensions: comprehension and word reading.

Again, as with writing, it is important that you focus your lessons equally on both areas, so that students gain an equivalent level of comprehension for each part.

As you will appreciate, different approaches to teaching are required for comprehension and word reading.

Comprehension relates to linguistic knowledge – with an emphasis on vocabulary and grammar – and knowledge of the world. Developing this in your pupils requires you to encourage them to participate in discussions, which involves reading and then conversing about stories, poems and non-fiction.

It is essential you support your students in reading widely, across fiction and non-fiction. This is so that you provide them with knowledge of themselves and the world they live. It also helps to promote an appreciation of the benefits of reading.

“Reading widely and often increases pupils’ vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech,” the government has explained.

“Reading also feeds pupils’ imagination and opens up a treasure-house of wonder and joy for curious young minds. It is essential that, by the end of their primary education, all pupils are able to read fluently and with confidence, in any subject in their forthcoming secondary education.”