Grammatical conventions are taught both explicitly and holistically alongside appropriate text types so that they can be taught and practised within a meaningful context. Over time, children learn the correct grammatical terms, how they are applied and an ever expanding range of punctuation. Here is an overview of what is taught across Primary School.

Speaking and listening is encouraged throughout the curriculum as well as within English itself. Listening is a skill that even some adults struggle with. At Christ Church New Malden, teachers model their own thought processes, they praise and encourage active listening and scaffold conversations to aid the development of constructive talk. We recognise that through talking about our ideas and work, we gain a better understanding of what we are thinking as well as feel how words or ideas sound out loud.

We learn about the different styles of talk required for different circumstances. This might be practised within English but then applied within Science or RE. We want to give children the freedom of their voice and the skills to use it eloquently.