English
At Dove House Academy, our English curriculum stands out with its innovative and coherent design aligned with the National Curriculum for English 2014. It's not just about reading and writing but also about fostering a love for discussion and performance. We are committed to developing our pupils’ reading and writing skills through a systematic synthetic phonics scheme, using The Fischer Family Trust (FFT) Success for All Phonics Scheme.
To ensure full engagement, we aim to make the subject as irresistible as possible for pupils of all abilities. We tailor the curriculum to pupils' passions and interests. We use a range of quality texts throughout our topics to help inspire imagination and creativity. We believe English is the cornerstone of all learning; therefore, a proficient skill in this subject is paramount to life's success.
Various cross-curricular links are embedded in the curriculum to support pupils' understanding of the relevance of English in all subjects and the world beyond school. To develop cultural capital, we study a range of stories set in different periods and geographical locations. Exposing pupils to a historical event through the characters within the texts allows pupils a safe environment to explore the past. English provides pupils with a voice as a range of current and historical issues are explored and discussed.
Effective communication is a key focus in all our lessons at Dove House Academy. We cover a range of themes, from respecting the opinions of others to expressing one's own views and opinions. We believe that these skills are essential for success in the wider world.
Reading
Our aim for Dove House Academy is that it is full of enthusiastic readers who care about books and believe that books can be a gateway to knowledge, thus preparing them for the wider world.
At Dove House Academy, we are dedicated to creating and promoting a reading culture across the school, regardless of the pupils' abilities. We provide access to a wide range of reading materials, including books, audiobooks, comics, and magazines, to instil a love for reading in our students.
Writing
At the heart of our curriculum is that pupils can communicate positively and effectively through written language. We support pupils in developing their confidence in their writing, enabling them to express their opinions and develop their creativity and imagination. We plan opportunities for pupils to write for various purposes to ensure they are prepared for the wider world. Enabling all pupils to write at a functional level allows them to lead meaningful and independent lives – communicating with friends and family, writing job applications and completing daily activities such as shopping lists, medical forms, birthday cards etc.