All Year One classes follow aspects of the Renewed Framework for Literacy supported by the National Literacy Strategy. This incorporates speaking and listening, reading, phonics, spelling handwriting and writing. Where relevant, links are made with other subjects to enhance pupil’s learning and broaden their learning experience.

Speaking and Listening
Children are supported in developing the skills of speaking clearly and using a wide range of appropriate vocabulary. The use of role play is encouraged to develop these skills. Children are also taught the importance of listening carefully to others and responding appropriately.

Reading
A variety of schemes are used. The main scheme is the Oxford Reading Tree supplemented with books from the New Way, Story Chest, Snapdragons, Rigby Star, Fireflies and Ginn schemes. The children are taught to read by using different strategies, including look and say, phonic skills, picture, sentence and context clues. Parents are involved with listening to children read at home. Two books per week are sent home for this purpose. Children also have the chance to make their own choices of reading materials - from the library and from class selections.

Phonics and Spelling
Children are taught phonics as prescribed in the Letters and Sounds phonic programme. This is a continuation of a programme which starts in Nursery and Reception. Children have regular phonics sessions using fun activities that involve all the children.
The children are taught to spell the most frequently used words. These are called High Frequency Words. The read, say, cover, write and check method is used at this stage as many of these words are difficult to spell phonetically. Children are also encouraged to use their phonic skills to ‘build’ other words. Lists of these words are sent home to learn with parents, along with handwriting practise on a regular basis as homework activities.

Handwriting
Children will build on handwriting and writing skills learned in Reception. They will continue practicing a style that will join easily and they will put this into practice by learning to join using a continuous cursive style over terms two and three. 
Click here to view a sample of handwriting.

Writing
Children have the opportunity to experience different genres of writing. They put into practice their literacy skills during class writing and 'Big Writing' sessions. Big Writing is a special time where children have the opportunity to write independently for a sustained period. This writing is celebrated and provides the children with next steps to learning in the form of writing targets.