At Goffs Oak Primary School, we teach English by following the Literary Curriculum (Literacy Tree). The Literary Curriculum is a complete, thematic approach to the teaching of primary English that places children’s literature at its core. 

The Literary Curriculum immerses children in a literary world, therefore creating strong levels of engagement to provide meaningful and authentic contexts for primary English.

Children become critical readers and acquire an authorial style as they encounter a wide-range of significant authors and a variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

The Literacy Tree is a whole school approach which we adopt from Key Stage 1. Within Reception, children will engage with some of the suggested Literacy Tree texts, alongside others which link to their individual interests and curriculum themes. Within the summer term in Reception, children will follow more of the Literacy Tree units of work in preparation for effective transition into Key Stage 1.

The Literacy Tree provides complete coverage of all National Curriculum expectations for writing composition, reading comprehension, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. All units of work lead to purposeful application within a wide variety of written outcomes.

How does it work?

As a whole-school approach, children explore at least 100 literary texts and experience over 75 unique significant authors as they move through the school. It provides complete coverage of all National Comprehension, literary language and spelling and grammar are taught through the context of the book and these skills are then applied rigorously in a variety of short and extended writing opportunities. All plans lead to purposeful application within a wide variety of written outcomes. At our school, the Literacy Tree texts are mapped out to ensure progression and National Curriculum coverage across all year groups.