Holy Spirit Catholic and Church of England Primary School

Holy Spirit Catholic and Church of England Primary School

English

At Holy Spirit Primary School, we believe that English is a key life skill. 

English is central to all children’s emotional, intellectual and social development. It has a pivotal role across the breadth of the curriculum and helps pupils’ learning to be both coherent and progressive. 

Through the English curriculum, we strive to support our children to develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to communicate effectively and creatively through spoken and written language. We hope that through a broad and rich English curriculum we will equip them with the skills to become lifelong learners. 

 English is at the heart of all learning. It enables children both to communicate with others effectively and to examine their own and others’ experiences, feelings and ideas, giving order and meaning in everyday life.   

We believe  that Reading is a life skill that every child should be entitled to. When children have the ability to read and decode text, so much of the world is opened up. We want not only to inspire our children through books but also to promote a love of reading that empowers children to become life- long readers. We want children at Holy Spirit to see reading as the gateway to exciting other worlds, the opening of our imaginations and the key to our knowledge.

I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on different worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read.

George R. R. Martin

We firmly believe that the teaching of the English curriculum should be inclusive to all children and we endeavour to inspire all through outstanding learning experiences. We hope to enable children to make excellent progress and to continue on from Holy Spirit Primary School as responsible, happy individuals  with deep rooted love of Reading and Writing.

Phonics

At Holy Spirit, We use the Read Write Inc Phonics Programme to get children in EYFS and Key stage One, off to a flying start with their language, reading and writing skills. RWI Phonics is a method of learning centred around letter sounds and phonics , and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing. Each member of staff has received extensive Ruth Miskin Training, rated outstanding by Ofsted, to ensure consistent practice across the whole school. 

How does RWI help children read?

  • Children learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter groups using simple picture prompts and catchy phrases.

  • Learn to read using Fred Talk.

  • Read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out.

  • Show that they comprehend stories by answering questions.

How does RWI Phonics help children write?

  • Learn to write the   letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds
  • Learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
  • Write simple sentences

Resources

Visit the Ruth Miskin website to support the teaching and learning of Read Write Inc phonics 

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/

Visit the parent pages on the Ruth Miskin Training website 

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/

Find out how to support your child at home 

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/

If you require any further information please contact our English Lead, Mrs Trentham, via the school office

Ready, Steady,   Spell

Ready , Steady , Spell is part of Literacy Counts’ comprehensive ReadySteady Literacy suite: a progressive, systematic spelling programme designed for primary-school pupils from Year 1/2 through to Year 6. It aligns fully with the National Curriculum, building spelling skills cyclically introducing new patterns, reinforcing them weekly, and embedding common exception or statutory words. 

What is Ready, Steady, Spell and how does it work?

Ready, Steady, Spell works through a carefully structured, progressive approach to teaching spelling across primary school years. Developed by Literacy Counts, the programme is designed to align fully with the National Curriculum and builds pupils’ spelling knowledge and retention over time. Here’s how it works:

Weekly Structure:

Each week follows a consistent format:

Four lessons introduce and practise a specific spelling pattern, rule, or set of words.

fifth session is a consolidation lesson that revisits and reinforces learning.

For Years 3 to 6, there are typically three teaching sessions plus one consolidation session per week.

Memory Strategies:

Lessons use multi-sensory strategies like:

Syll-a-beat (breaking words into syllables),

Rule Rhyme (rhymes to remember spelling rules),

Picture It (visualising or drawing words), and

Word Build (constructing words from parts).
These are designed to help pupils retain new spellings in long-term memory.

Memory Lock Activities:
Each lesson includes tasks such as Look/Cover/Write/Check, speed writing, and drawing words, which encourage repeated exposure and active recall.

Catch-Up and Review:
Every half term includes an assessment week with a review of previous learning and optional catch-up sessions for pupils who need more support.

Resources and Support:
Teachers are supported with:

Interactive whiteboard presentations,

Pupil workbooks,

Word lists (including common exception and statutory words),

A full teaching handbook to guide delivery.

The programme ensures consistency and progression in spelling instruction, making it easier for pupils to develop both accuracy and confidence in their spelling.

 

How can you support your child with Ready, Steady, Spell at home?

 

Parents can play a key role in supporting their child’s progress with Ready, Steady, Spell at home by reinforcing the strategies and patterns taught in school. Here are some effective ways they can help:

  1. Use Weekly Word Lists:
    Review the weekly spelling words sent home (or provided via school) and practise them daily in short, focused sessions. Break words into manageable chunks.
  2. Practise ‘Memory Lock’ Activities:
    Encourage activities used in class, such as:
  • Look, Cover, Write, Check
  • Speed writing(how many times can you write the word in 30 seconds?)
  • Drawing wordsin creative ways (e.g. rainbow writing or bubble letters)
  1. Use Fun Memory Techniques:
    Support your child in using strategies from school like:
  • Syll-a-beat: Clap out syllables of tricky words.
  • Rule Rhyme: Make up rhymes for spelling rules (e.g. “I before E except after C”).
  • Picture It: Draw images to help remember spellings (e.g. drawing a “c” in “cat”).
  1. Play Spelling Games:
    Use simple games like word bingo, hangman, or spelling scrambles to make learning fun and memorable.
  2. Incorporate Spelling into Daily Life:
    Spot words in books, signs, or menus, and talk about spelling rules when writing cards, shopping lists, or notes together.
  3. Celebrate Progress:
    Praise effort and improvement, not just correct spellings. This builds confidence and motivation.
  4. Stay in Touch with Teachers:
    Ask your child’s teacher for the current focus or strategies being used so you can mirror them at home.

By making spelling practice consistent, engaging, and positive, parents can reinforce what’s learned in the classroom and help embed strong spelling habits for life.

 

If you require any further information about the programme, please feel free to contact our English Lead, Mrs Trentham, via the school office, who will be more than happy to help you.