Phonics is how children begin to read and write. We use Letters and Sounds as the basis of our phonics programme. Click here for the full document.
We use short discreet sessions to teach spelling across the school. We also use Spelling Shed to enable children to practise their spellings in an engaging format. Spellings that have been taught in class are then embedded across the currciulum.
There is an emphasis on proof reading and editing spelling. Children are encouraged to edit their work and improve their spelling at every opportunity.
Mersham Primary School aims to teach cursive handwriting, beginning in Early Years and continuing through to Year 6.
Early Years promotes book talk to engage children in books and stories by looking at the pictures and discussing what they understand before they then move on to books with words. All children will be given many opportunities to read across the curriculum. The minimum expectation is for the children to read at home three times a week. In key stage one and key stage two children have daily guided reading sessions where they will work on their reading skills either independently or with the class teacher or teaching assisstant.
What is it? It stands for English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling. All of these areas have always been taught in school, however, recently there has been a huge emphasis on this and the expectation of grammar terms the children should know and at what age, has changed drastically. We teach this using short discreet sessions across the school and these skills are then embedded across the curriculum.