Vision for English at St John's

At St John’s, we believe every child is a reader, a writer and a confident communicator, uniquely created by God. Through a rich, inclusive and inspiring English curriculum, we nurture a love of language that empowers our children to find their voice, express their ideas and understand the world around them with curiosity, compassion and confidence.

At St John's, we use Literacy Tree to support our teaching and learning of the English curriculum. This curriculum is spiralled and rooted amidst our Christian values. We promote a Reading for Pleasure and Progress culture, where children develop both the will and the skill to read widely, joyfully and with understanding. By immersing pupils in high-quality, diverse texts that reflect our Christian values, we open doors to new perspectives and deepen their knowledge of themselves and others.

We understand that reading is breathing in and writing is breathing out. Through a carefully crafted, book-based curriculum, our children become imaginative writers, critical thinkers and resilient editors. They learn to craft language for different audiences and purposes, equipped with strong spelling, grammar and a rich vocabulary so they can write with accuracy, flair and pride.

We value oracy as a foundation for learning and life. Our children are taught to speak and listen with respect, clarity and purpose. Through discussion, drama, debate and performance, they develop the confidence to express themselves, listen actively, question thoughtfully and collaborate effectively with others.

We use Little Wandle to support our phonics teaching and ensure that all children are well equipped for the next stage of their academic journey by strong and systematic teaching of phonics from the EYFS onwards. 

By the end of Key Stage Two, our children will leave St John’s as enthusiastic readers, ambitious authors, confident speakers and active listeners.

They will take pleasure in language, communicate with purpose and empathy, and see themselves as lifelong learners and storytellers—ready to shape their own future story.