Notre Dame Du Rosaire Catholic Primary School
Literacy
How we teach reading at Notre Dame du Rosaire
At Notre Dame du Rosaire, we take reading very seriously. Children need to learn to read as quickly as reasonably possible, so they can move from learning to read, to reading to learn, giving them access to the treasure house of reading. From the moment children start in reception we start them on a programme of systematic, synthetic phonics using the Little Wandle Scheme. This programme combines the teaching of sounds, supported by high quality decodable books, alongside developing a love of reading. They will be taught phonics every day and take part in reading sessions at least 3 times a week as well as being heard read individually.
Follow this link for more information on Little Wandle
Once children complete the scheme, they continue the reading journey with our banded scheme of engaging reading books and whole class readers. A strong focus on reading fluency enables all children to move confidently from word recognition to comprehension and motivation. Children's love of reading is also developed through visits to our beautiful school libraries, book clubs, reading buddies and many other enrichment activities.
How we teach writing at Notre Dame du Rosaire
At Notre Dame, we believe that every child can become a confident, capable writer when given the right tools. We don’t expect pupils to produce lengthy pieces of writing without a solid foundation. Instead, our dynamic and structured curriculum breaks writing down into its vital component skills, allowing children to build fluency and accuracy step by step.
Our writing lessons follow a clear, three-part model:
- Grammar Mastery & Skill Building: We begin with the core mechanics of language. Through purposeful, interactive teaching, children master grammar and punctuation, developing strong sentence construction from the outset.
- Collaborative & Guided Practice: Next, teachers explicitly model high-quality writing. Working together as a class, children practice these new skills within a highly supportive, scaffolded environment.
- Independent Application: Finally, children bring all these separate components together, confidently applying what they have learned to produce sustained, independent pieces of writing.
Writing with Purpose
To make learning meaningful, our writing projects are always connected to the wider curriculum. Each term, children write pieces inspired either by a rich text they have explored in reading lessons, or by a topic they are studying in another subject, such as history or science.
By explicitly teaching the skills that underpin success, we ensure grammar is a tool for creativity, empowering every child to write with clarity, accuracy, and pride.
How to support your child with their phonics and reading at home
- Reception Autumn 1
- Reception Autumn 2
- Year 1 Phase 5 Sounds
- Capital Letter Formation
- Supporting Reading Fluency.pdf
- Programme-Overview_Reception-1.pdf
- Programme-Overview_Year-1.pdf