At Thornhill Primary School, we believe the exposure of children’s literature is vital as a rich context for learning; not only within English as a subject but to support building a reading culture throughout the school. We aim to use a range of high-quality literature to engage, challenge and support children to be critical readers and confident and informed writers. Texts will offer opportunities for empathy and can aid philosophical enquiry, as a means of developing the spoken language requirements through debate, drama and discussion using the issues raised through, and within, the text.

By using the Literacy Tree approach, we are putting high quality books at the core of all of our teaching ensuring that reading, writing and grammar has a purpose. Our children are given writing opportunities that are meaningful leading towards a variety of exciting shorter, longer and extended writing outcomes where the audience and purpose is clear. They are hooked by the quality texts which engage the learner and starts them on their reading for pleasure journey to enable them to build a literary repertoire during their time with us. The Teach Through a Text approach ensures a consistent, cohesive pedagogy is used across the school.