Colman Infant and Junior School

English

About Our English Curriculum

As a school we use CUSP phonics

It is the intent of the curriculum to:

  • build confident and capable readers to aid in current and future learning in all areas
  • build skills in comprehension including retrieval, sequencing, inference and authorial intent
  • create articulate writers in an array of text types which will stem from articulate speakers

English, as a core subject, will be taught daily. We recognise the need for English to maintain a core time every morning as learning to read will be the basis for all future learning.


Phonics

Phonics will build a large part of the focus in the EYFS and KS1. We believe that excellent phonics teaching is the foundation to reading and future learning for all children. Daily phonics lessons will be taught using a consistent approach, ReadWriteInc., throughout the school. Phonics lessons will provide an opportunity to:

  • Revisit past learning
  • Teach new phoneme/grapheme
  • Practise
  • Apply

Ongoing monitoring of phonics will be completed through Phonics Tracker. Spelling rules will be expected to be integrated into phonics and then extend beyond phonics. Children will be provided timely intervention to allow them the opportunity to keep up rather than catch up at a later time.


Spelling

Spelling lessons follow the CUSP curriculum and are taught daily. They include:

  • Revisit (daily)
  • Spelling rule (Introduction and revisit daily)
  • Definitions (including word origins, root words, meaning of suffixes or prefixes)
  • Syllabification
  • Short Dictations

Spelling will be assessed through PiXL and CUSP termly assessments.


Reading

Reading is at the heart of everything we do as a school!

Our reading curriculum is built upon the CUSP curriculum which provides a literature spine for reading with additional texts and extracts to aid in a range of reading opportunities.

CUSP Literature Spine 

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3 

Year 4 

Year 5 

Year 6  

Reception Open Event | Friday 23rd May 2025

We would love to invite parents and Reception age children for 2025/26 to come and visit our amazing Early Years Provision and meet our wonderful staff! 

We have invested extensively in Early Years and are exceptionally proud to be able to offer your child the best possible start to their school journey.

You're welcome to bring your child along as they can take part in various activities in and outside of the classrooms -we want them to start feeling familiar with staff and the environment .  

We understand that starting school is a time of mixed emotions for children and parents and we want to offer new parents as well as parents considering a place at Colman Infant School, the opportunity to come and spend some time with us. We are keen to get to know you and your child ahead of their transition to school.

Please let the office know if you would like to attend by calling 01603 508530.