The National Curriculum states that “English has a pre-eminent place in education and society” and, at Fair Oak Junior School, we believe that literacy is a fundamental life skill.  We aim to teach the children all the skills of language essential for their successful transfer to secondary school.

We actively promote reading for pleasure, while focusing on developing the children’s confidence, fluency and understanding through an exciting curriculum, guided reading and regular visits to our well-stocked library.  Children are also introduced to new authors and books through our read aloud curriculum.  Every year, our very popular Book Fair gives children an opportunity to buy exciting, new reads; our annual author visit inspires the children and encourages them to read more widely.

Pupils have regular opportunities across the curriculum to write for different audiences and purposes, while talk is used to help them generate and organise their ideas.  Our study of grammar enables the children to choose words carefully for their impact on the reader and construct sentences skillfully.

Spelling patterns are taught regularly and the children are given opportunities to focus on applying these rules in their independent writing.  A major focus of our spelling curriculum is enabling the children to focus on ways of learning to spell tricky words.  Children are also taught to spell the statutory words, as outlined in the National Curriculum.

On their arrival at Fair Oak Junior School, all children write using a pencil.  After practising their joined handwriting to develop a neat, fluent style, they are awarded a pen to write with.

Being able to communicate to communicate with others is essential in life.  Rules for speaking and listening are established early and children are encouraged to listen to others with interest and respect, valuing and learning from opinions which may differ from their own.  They are also enabled to develop their ability to share and explain their own opinions and ideas clearly and confidently.

Homework is set on a weekly basis and this gives pupils the opportunity to practise their reading, writing, spelling and grammar, while giving parents the chance to have a greater level of involvement in their child’s education.

Every year, Fair Oak Junior School produces its own newspaper: Fair Comment.  Each child writes an article and the result is a professionally printed publication.