Through an Attachment and Trauma Informed Practice (ATIP) approach, our curriculum from Year 3 to Year 11 is carefully sequenced to revisit and strengthen reading, writing, speaking and listening skills at a pace that suits each learner. We are dedicated to nurturing a love for reading, with our ‘Drop Everything and Read’ (DEAR) sessions that encourage students to explore books that ignite their imaginations. Additionally, we are embarking on an Accelerated Reader journey, empowering students to select books that match their abilities and support learning across subjects. Pupils engage with a wide range of texts, from classic literature to contemporary works and functional literacy, ensuring relevance and accessibility while developing vocabulary and cultural capital. Lessons provide predictability and nurture, with opportunities for discussion, performance and creativity. Enrichment activities such as competitions, author visits and theatre trips complement real-world writing tasks and independent reading, preparing pupils for GCSE and Functional Skills qualifications and for positive participation in modern society.

Our English curriculum starts early, building upon phonics skills from Key Stage 2 to ensure strong language foundations. KS2 students revisit texts to enhance comprehension and expand vocabulary. In Year 7, students explore Diary of a Wimpy Kid, fairy tales, folklore and Dr Seuss poetry alongside informative writing. Year 8 moves on to Holes, myths and legends, the history of poetry and persuasive writing. Year 9 focuses on Maus, creative writing through utopian and dystopian themes, and developing analysis and critical thinking. Year 10 studies A Christmas Carol and Sherlock Holmes, Functional

Skills Level 1 exams and detective-themed creative writing. Year 11 prepares for Functional Skills Level 2 exams and revises fiction and non-fiction texts. For students needing extra support with reading, we offer 1:1 tuition through The Haven using RWI or Fresh Start programmes, ensuring every learner can thrive.