Intent
Why we teach this
English at Cosmos Primary is taught as a coherent journey from spoken language to confident written expression. Children meet stories that earn their place in the school’s reading spine, learn phonics with fidelity, and are taught vocabulary deliberately — every word, every classroom.
Our curriculum is built on the conviction that reading for pleasure and reading for knowledge are not in tension. We choose books and units that allow both to flourish — alongside daily phonics, structured oracy and explicit writing instruction.
- Every child leaves Cosmos Primary as a confident reader, a clear writer and a fluent speaker — in their own voice.
- Reading for pleasure runs alongside reading for knowledge. We teach phonics with fidelity and choose books that earn their place in a child’s memory.
- Vocabulary is taught explicitly: Tier 2 (academic) and Tier 3 (subject-specific) words are introduced, revisited and used.
Implementation
How it lands in classrooms
Twinkl Phonics provides daily systematic synthetic phonics teaching through Levels 1–6, mapped to our Nursery–Stage 2 children. R.E.A.D. is the daily reading lane that pulls phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension into one structured session.
Writing is taught in three distinct strands so each gets the attention it needs: Transcription (handwriting + spelling), Composition (planning, drafting, editing) and Type Right (keyboard fluency from Grade 3). S.P.E.A.K. is the oracy programme — sentence stems, partner talk, presentational talk and debate.
- Twinkl Phonics (Level 1–6) is our base programme, delivered with daily fidelity in EY and KS1.
- R.E.A.D. organises decodable practice, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension into one structured daily session.
- S.P.E.A.K. develops oracy — sentence stems, partner talk, presentational talk and debate.
- Write Right splits writing into Transcription (handwriting + spelling), Composition (planning, drafting, editing) and Type Right (keyboard fluency) so each is taught well.
- Cambridge Primary English provides the long-term spine from Stage 1 onwards.
Impact
What learners can do
- By the end of UKG, children read decodable books with fluency and recall stories with confidence.
- By the end of Grade 2 (Stage 2), children read independently with growing comprehension and write a paragraph with control of basic punctuation.
- By the end of Grade 5 (Stage 5), children write fluently for a range of purposes, read widely across genres, and speak in extended turns.
Programmes & resources
What we teach with and where families can read more
Programmes
R.E.A.D.
Daily reading session structure — phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension.
S.P.E.A.K.
Oracy programme — sentence stems, partner talk, presentational talk.
Write Right · Transcription
Handwriting + spelling, daily.
Write Right · Composition
Planning, drafting, editing.
Type Right (KS2)
Keyboard fluency from Grade 3.
For families
Twinkl Phonics parent guide
How phonics is taught at home.
Heart Words list
The 100 common-exception words.
Class reading spine
Books your child will hear read aloud this year.