Literacy

Intent

At Hertford Heath, our Literacy curriculum is designed to develop pupils who are confident, thoughtful and capable communicators, with strong foundations in reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary and spoken language. We aim to foster a love of language and literature whilst ensuring that all pupils acquire the essential skills needed to read fluently, write effectively and communicate with clarity.
 

Our approach is underpinned by ELS phonics and early reading, VIPERS reading practice, the HFL essential writing scheme, EdShed for spelling and spelling rules, and LetterJoin for handwriting. Together, these approaches provide a coherent and ambitious curriculum that enables pupils to build knowledge and skills progressively over time.

Through early reading, pupils are taught using ELS phonics to develop secure decoding skills, fluency and confidence in reading. Through reading more widely, pupils are supported to develop comprehension and a deeper understanding of a range of texts through regular VIPERS practice, which strengthens pupils’ ability to retrieve, infer, predict, explain, retrieve vocabulary, sequence and summarise. Through writing, pupils are taught to plan, draft, revise and edit their work with increasing independence, developing accuracy, coherence and a growing awareness of audience and purpose. Through spelling, pupils learn to apply phonics, spelling patterns, rules and strategies securely so that transcription becomes increasingly automatic. Through handwriting, pupils are taught using the LetterJoin scheme to develop fluent, legible and appropriately joined handwriting, supporting them to write with increasing speed, accuracy and pride.

We want all pupils to become enthusiastic readers and writers who can express themselves confidently, creatively and accurately. Our Literacy curriculum is inclusive and ambitious, ensuring that every child is supported to achieve well and to develop the language-rich foundations needed for future learning.

Implementation

Early reading and phonics

Early reading is taught through the ELS phonics scheme , which provides a systematic and structured approach to decoding, blending and segmenting. Pupils are taught to apply their phonics knowledge accurately and confidently when reading, with fluency developed through regular practice and carefully matched reading materials. The teaching of early reading ensures that pupils build a secure foundation for future reading success and develop the confidence to tackle unfamiliar words independently.
 

Reading

Reading is developed through regular VIPERS practice, which supports pupils to respond to a wide range of texts with increasing confidence and independence. VIPERS questions help pupils to develop the key comprehension skills of vocabulary, inference, prediction, explanation, retrieval, sequence and summarise. These skills are taught explicitly and revisited frequently through whole-class reading, guided discussion and independent response. Teachers select a range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts to ensure breadth, challenge and enjoyment. Reading fluency, prosody and comprehension are developed together so that pupils become confident readers who can understand and discuss texts in depth.

Writing

Writing is taught using the HFL essential writing scheme, which provides a structured progression of writing skills across year groups. Pupils are exposed to high-quality model texts and are taught how to analyse text features, identify authorial choices and apply these in their own writing. Lessons include explicit teaching of grammar, sentence construction, vocabulary, composition and editing skills. Pupils are supported to plan, draft, improve and publish their writing for a range of purposes and audiences. Teachers model writing processes carefully and provide opportunities for oral rehearsal, shared writing and independent application.

Handwriting
Handwriting is taught through the LetterJoin scheme, which supports pupils to develop fluent, legible and consistently joined handwriting from the earliest stages. Pupils are taught correct letter formation, posture, pencil grip and joining patterns so that handwriting becomes automatic and supports the quality of written work. As pupils progress, they are encouraged to apply these skills in all written tasks, developing control, stamina and pride in presentation.

Spelling and spelling rules

Spelling is taught through EdShed, ensuring that pupils are systematically introduced to spelling patterns, rules and strategies appropriate to their stage of development. Pupils practise spelling through regular retrieval, application and repeated exposure, helping them to secure key orthographic knowledge. Teaching includes the use of phonics knowledge where appropriate, alongside explicit instruction in spelling rules, morphology and etymology. Pupils are encouraged to apply their spelling knowledge in both isolated practice and wider written tasks so that accuracy improves over time.

Across Literacy, teachers use modelling, scaffolding, retrieval practice and carefully chosen questioning to support all learners, including those with SEND. Subject-specific vocabulary is taught and revisited regularly, and pupils are given opportunities to speak, listen, read and write for a range of meaningful purposes. Literacy is celebrated across the school, with pupils encouraged to take pride in their reading and writing and to see themselves as successful communicators and authors.