My name is Mrs Markscheffel, and I am proud to lead English at Perryfields Junior School. I am passionate about English because I believe that reading, writing, speaking and listening open doors for every child. They allow pupils to express themselves, explore new ideas, and develop the confidence they need to succeed across the curriculum and in life.

I am especially keen to inspire a love of reading and writing in our children. At Perryfields, we want every child to see themselves as a reader and a writer - someone who enjoys discovering new stories, exploring different authors and genres, and having a voice through their writing. We want children to value the writing process, take pride in editing and improving their work, and feel confident making creative choices that bring their writing to life.

English is more than a subject - it is the foundation for communication, imagination and understanding. Through a rich and ambitious English curriculum, we support our pupils to read fluently, write effectively, develop a strong vocabulary, and communicate clearly and confidently. In doing so, we help them grow into thoughtful, articulate and enthusiastic learners who are ready for the next stage of their education.

Implementation

Our implementation is carefully sequenced to ensure that children build knowledge and skills progressively over time. Reading is taught through whole-class VIPER lessons, daily reading activities, reading carousels and targeted interventions where needed. Children are given regular opportunities to read a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, supported by high-quality teaching, modelling and questioning. We want pupils to read with confidence, discuss texts thoughtfully and deepen their understanding through exposure to ambitious vocabulary and challenging questions.

Writing lessons are similarly structured to allow children to plan, draft, edit and publish their work, with model texts, shared writing, working walls and vocabulary support in place to help them succeed. Lessons are designed so that grammar, spelling and vocabulary are taught in context and directly linked to the genre being studied. Children are encouraged to think carefully about audience and purpose, take creative risks and improve their writing through self-assessment, peer assessment and teacher feedback. We place a strong emphasis on the editing process, helping pupils to understand that successful writing is refined over time.

Spelling, grammar and vocabulary are taught explicitly and revisited regularly, while speaking and listening are developed through discussion, performance, drama and public speaking opportunities. We also provide enrichment experiences such as reading assemblies, author visits, the Reading Challenge, free writing, publishing work in the library and other opportunities that promote reading and writing for pleasure. These experiences help children to see English as something to enjoy, value and take pride in.

Impact

As a result, pupils at Perryfields become enthusiastic, resilient and confident readers and writers. They enjoy reading widely, talk passionately about books, write with purpose and pride, and edit their work thoughtfully. They are able to communicate effectively, make creative choices and access the wider curriculum with confidence.

By the end of Key Stage 2, most children achieve age-related expectations or above in reading and writing. They leave Perryfields with the skills, confidence and enthusiasm needed to continue their journey as readers, writers and communicators.