English
WRITING AND GRAMMAR AT AINTREE DAVENHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL
Our writing curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. We follow the award-winning Ready Steady Write from Literacy Counts to develop confident, independent and successful writers with high aspirations. Our writing curriculum is research-informed and impact-proven, carefully designed to support all children to master the foundational skills and write for a clear audience and purpose. Through the use of high-quality, vocabulary-rich texts, we provide exciting and meaningful reasons to write. Children are immersed in literature and taught to craft their writing with precision, using a range of pedagogical approaches, including sentence accuracy, modelled writing and shared writing, as well as regular opportunities for editing.
We value spoken language as a foundation for writing. Through structured talk, drama and vocabulary exploration, children learn how to organise and express their ideas clearly before writing them down.
Our aim is for every child – regardless of need – to write fluently and take pride in their work. We want our pupils to leave primary school as enthusiastic writers, ready for the next stage of their education.
To further support the development of fine motor skills and handwriting fluency, we use the Letter Join scheme from Reception to Year 3.
READING AT AINTREE DAVENHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL
At Aintree Davenhill, we aim to foster a lifelong love of reading, a deep enjoyment of books, and a passion for learning. Reading begins with the sharing of stories, both at school and at home. This daily exposure to language and storytelling lays the foundation for reading success, and regular home reading remains a vital part of every child’s journey in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Your support in hearing your child read each day is invaluable and makes a significant difference.
In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we follow the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme, a highly structured and systematic approach to teaching phonics. Through RWI, children quickly develop the skills to decode words and read with increasing fluency and confidence. This programme not only supports early reading but also builds vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of storytelling from the very beginning of a child’s education.
In Key Stage 2, children transition to the Accelerated Reader (AR) programme. This real-book approach gives pupils access to a wide range of high-quality, age-appropriate literature from our well-stocked school library. AR supports children in selecting books at the right level for their reading ability, developing stamina, comprehension, and a genuine enjoyment of independent reading. Regular quizzes help pupils reflect on their understanding and progress, while also allowing teachers to track development and tailor support.
Through our structured programmes and inspiring reading environments, children at Aintree Davenhill grow into enthusiastic, confident readers who are well-equipped for future learning.
For further details, please see our Phonics and Reading Policies.
SPELLING AT AINTREE DAVENHILL
At Aintree Davenhill, spelling is taught systematically to help children become confident, accurate writers. From Year 2 onwards, we follow the Ready Steady Spell programme by Literacy Counts. This structured and consistent approach ensures clear progression in the teaching of spelling across Key Stage 2.
Ready Steady Spell is designed to build on the foundations of phonics and develop children's understanding of spelling patterns, rules, and strategies in a meaningful context. The programme is aligned with the National Curriculum and supports children in applying their spelling knowledge across all areas of writing.
Spelling is taught explicitly through engaging, well-sequenced lessons, with opportunities for regular review and consolidation. Children are encouraged to explore word origins, meanings, and morphology, helping them make connections and apply their learning more confidently in their independent writing.
By using Ready Steady Spell, we ensure that children are equipped with the tools they need to spell accurately and to take increasing ownership of their spelling development.