Reading
At Purbrook Junior School, we inspire every pupil to Dream Big. We nurture ambition so that all children strive to be the very best they can be and feel ready to embrace a rich and varied world of opportunity. Reading sits at the heart of this vision; it is the gateway to knowledge, imagination and lifelong learning.
We place reading at the core of learning and work hard to create a culture where children are eager to explore, question and discover through the texts they encounter. Confident, fluent reading is essential for pupils to understand and navigate the world around them and we are committed to providing regular, purposeful opportunities for children to develop fluency in oral reading. Through shared reading, performance reading, paired reading and whole‑class text exploration, pupils practise reading aloud with accuracy and prosody, developing automaticity and confidence.
Alongside this, we foster a genuine love of reading. Our pupils enjoy high‑quality texts, celebrated authors, a well‑stocked and inviting library and a calendar of engaging events designed to spark curiosity and joy. This year, we are proud to be whole‑hearted participants in the National Year of Reading, embracing the national celebration with school‑wide initiatives, community involvement and exciting reading experiences for all.
We recognise the lifelong benefits of developing a love for reading. Books offer pleasure, comfort, challenge and inspiration; they broaden horizons and deepen understanding. By selecting rich, carefully chosen texts to drive learning, teachers model and teach the skills needed not only to read – but to want to read. Our aim is that every child leaves Year 6 as a confident, fluent reader who is ready to thrive in the next stage of their education and beyond.
Due to the file size of the Reading Curriculum, it has been split into 3 parts below.
Writing
At Purbrook Junior School, we believe that writing enables children to communicate, create and Dream Big. Informed by the Writing Framework (2025), our curriculum ensures that every pupil develops the knowledge, skills and confidence to express themselves with clarity and imagination.
High‑quality texts inspire our teaching and provide strong models for vocabulary, structure and authorial choices. Pupils write for a range of meaningful purposes, producing engaging outcomes that balance writing to inform, entertain and persuade.
Secure transcriptional skills underpin successful writing. We prioritise the regular teaching of handwriting and spelling, helping pupils develop fluency and accuracy so they can focus on shaping their ideas. Children are also taught how to proofread and edit effectively, improving their work through careful reflection and deliberate choices. Writing is a craft, requiring skill and adjustments to ensure the writer’s intention is clearly communicated to their audience.
Across Key Stage 2, pupils build independence through well‑structured teaching, purposeful practice and opportunities to write for real audiences. By the end of Year 6, our aim is that every child is a confident, capable writer who takes pride in their work and is ready for the next stage of their learning.
Writing Outcomes – Whole School Overview 2025 – 2026
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” – Stephen King
Our current English leader(s) is: Mrs A Hotchin