"Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world"   

Malala Yousafzai 

Our vision for English:

At Bedford Primary, we aim to foster an engaging and inclusive English curriculum that is accessible to all. Our goal is to ensure every child experiences a rich, varied and enjoyable journey through reading, writing and spoken language.

We believe that a high-quality English education is essential to every child’s success. We are passionate about nurturing a lifelong love of reading and writing, where children are inspired by the texts they encounter and empowered to use language creatively and confidently.

Through exposure to high-quality, diverse language and literature, our pupils develop the vocabulary, imagination and confidence to express themselves clearly and thoughtfully. Oracy lies at the heart of our curriculum as we value speaking and listening as vital tools for learning, understanding and connecting with others.

We are ambitious for all our learners, ensuring they leave Bedford Primary with the skills, confidence and love of English that will support them throughout their education and beyond.

The skills of a great student of English:

• Has a strong command of spoken language, expressing ideas clearly and confidently in different contexts.

• Listens carefully and responds thoughtfully, showing understanding and empathy.

• Reads fluently and widely, with enjoyment and understanding, across a range of genres and authors.

• Writes with imagination and purpose by developing stamina and pride in their written work.

• Uses rich vocabulary and accurate grammar by choosing words for impact and precision.

• Participates actively in class discussions by sharing opinions and building on others’ ideas.

• Thinks creatively and critically, making connections between texts and real-life experiences.

• Demonstrates curiosity about language, exploring how words and stories shape meaning.

• Takes ownership of their learning, editing and improving their work independently.

• Shows resilience and perseverance, understanding that great writing and reading take practice.

• Values oracy by communicating effectively and respectfully with others.

• Uses reading as a window into other worlds, developing empathy, imagination and insight.

Our English Curriculum: 

At Bedford, we have designed a broad, balanced and inspiring English curriculum. We are continually reviewing and refining our learning journey to ensure it remains ambitious, engaging and fully aligned with the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum. Our intent is to provide every child with the skills, knowledge and confidence to communicate effectively, think critically, and develop a lifelong love of language and literature. 

Oracy at Bedford

At Bedford, we believe that Oracy is at the heart of learning and success. Strong speaking and listening skills are essential for children to communicate effectively, express their ideas with confidence and engage deeply with their learning.  Our high-quality Oracy education is carefully planned and fully embedded across the curriculum. We provide pupils with structured opportunities to discuss, debate, present and perform, enabling them to become articulate, thoughtful and respectful communicators who are ready for the future.

Reading at Bedford

At Bedford, our approach to reading is driven by an unrelenting determination that every child will learn to read fluently, confidently and with enjoyment. We believe reading is the foundation of all learning.  It is essential for acquiring knowledge, building vocabulary and opening doors to new ideas and experiences.

Through reading, our pupils develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Our curriculum promotes curiosity, a love of books and the desire to explore more. Teachers have carefully selected high-quality texts as the main focus for English lessons to ensure all children are exposed to a wide range of rich and diverse literature.

Guided Reading takes place at least four times a week, allowing pupils to explore a variety of genres and authors. Our Guided Reading Spine includes fiction extracts, non-fiction texts, poetry and song lyrics, ensuring children experience a balanced and varied literary diet. Each year group studies a set of poems and song lyrics arranged into four themes, supporting progression and deepening appreciation of language and rhythm as pupils move through the school.

Writing at Bedford 

Our writing curriculum ensures pupils are immersed in diverse, high-quality texts from a wide range of authors, genres and cultures, which both inspire their writing and broaden their perspectives. Vocabulary and language development are explicitly taught through ambitious word choices and oracy at the heart of the curriculum.  This enable pupils to express themselves with precision and confidence

We foster a love of reading for both knowledge and pleasure, ensuring pupils encounter texts across all subjects to build fluency, comprehension and subject-specific understanding. Exposure to high-quality literature is at the heart of our teaching, sparking curiosity, nurturing a love of books and inspiring a desire to explore and discover across all areas of learning. 

These texts also serve as a springboard for writing, providing models of ambitious vocabulary, structure and style. Through guided and independent writing experiences, our pupils are encouraged to express their own ideas, develop creativity and write with confidence, purpose and flair. By embedding reading and writing deeply into our curriculum, we aim to equip every child with the skills, imagination and passion to become lifelong readers and writers.

Key Documentation

English Progression Maps

Following the National curriculum objectives, we have created progression maps for each year group to outline key skills that need to be taught. 

Parental support:

The most important thing you can do at home to support your child with English is to read, read and read some more.  While it is vital that your child reads the book they are sent home with to you, it is just as important for you to share different books with them at home.  It would be great for children to have special time with parents while you share a book they have chosen together, either with both of you reading some or adults just reading it to the children.  This will help children to develop their vocabulary but will also hopefully give your children a love of reading.  Bootle Library is a great resource for allowing children to choose a wide range of books.