At Parkside, our English curriculum is designed to nurture and inspire young minds through a carefully sequenced three-phased cycle: Immersion, Imitation, and Innovation. Central to our intent is the development of pupils’ confidence and competence in reading, writing, speaking, and listening by engaging them with high-quality texts that stimulate curiosity and critical thinking.

We prioritise strong foundational skills in phonics through the systematic Monster Phonics scheme, ensuring pupils develop accuracy and automaticity in decoding from the earliest stages. This foundation supports pupils’ progression to more complex reading and writing tasks. Our curriculum also emphasises oracy and vocabulary development, with a focus on tier two and tier three vocabulary embedded in meaningful contexts.

We are committed to providing all pupils, including those with SEND and from disadvantaged backgrounds, with rich language experiences that build knowledge, vocabulary, and skills. This prepares them for future academic success and lifelong communication, aligned with national curriculum aims and OFSTED expectations.

English Curriculum Overview

Implementation

Our English curriculum is delivered through a structured three-phase cycle:

1. Immersion Phase: Pupils engage deeply with a high-quality text through active oracy activities such as role-play, freeze frames, predicting, monologues, and hot-seating. This phase fosters comprehension, empathy, and expressive skills while building background knowledge and vocabulary. Concurrently, pupils receive systematic phonics instruction via the Monster Phonics scheme, ensuring early reading skills are secure.
2. Imitation Phase: Pupils rehearse and practise the specific skills needed for a final writing outcome. This includes a range of incidental writing tasks supported by co-constructed writes and live feedback in every lesson, enabling responsive teaching and personalised progress. Scaffolds and differentiated support ensure all pupils can access the learning and build confidence.
3. Innovation Phase: Pupils apply the skills rehearsed in the imitation phase to create an independent final piece of writing. This phase encourages creativity and mastery, allowing pupils to innovate within a secure framework.

Throughout all phases, there is a strong emphasis on tiered vocabulary development. Pupils explore and practise tier two and tier three vocabulary before and during engagement with the text. Shared and co-constructed writing examples are displayed on learning walls to reinforce connections with prior learning and embed key concepts.

Impact

The impact of our English curriculum is evident in pupils’ growing ability to communicate effectively and creatively across spoken and written forms. Pupils demonstrate increasing confidence in using complex vocabulary and varied sentence structures, reflecting their engagement with rich texts and scaffolded practice. The early and sustained use of Monster Phonics ensures pupils develop fluency and accuracy in reading, supporting their access to challenging texts as they progress.

Regular live feedback and co-constructed writing opportunities ensure that pupils make consistent progress, closing gaps and deepening their understanding. Ultimately, pupils leave Parkside with a strong foundation in English that supports their academic journey and personal development, embodying our vision of nurturing and inspiring young minds toward a bright future.