Literacy and English 

We have been heavily involved with the Glasgow City Council Improvement Challenge since it started in 2015. As with most schools it is important to revisit elements of Reading, Writing, as well as Listening & Talking to ensure our staff have the most up to date advice and strategies to best support the needs of all our learners.

Reading:

Reading is a critical tool for lifelong learning and our main aims are to encourage and teach children to read fluently with expression and understanding and to develop a love for books. We use the PM Benchmark tool to assess each child’s individual level of fluency and understanding. The children then choose a book to match their personal level of ability. The children bring this book home to read with parents/carers and discuss the content. In class, during daily enhanced reading sessions, the children read to peers and ask/answer questions about their text and the text of others. The children’s progress is assessed by the class teacher and move levels appropriately. Daily personal reading sessions called ERIC Time are timetabled. Reading skills taught are also assessed in other areas of the curriculum.

Phonics and Spelling

The earliest stages of reading focus on learning the letter names and sounds. We use Ruth Miskin Phonics to support children with this learning. We use Prim-Ed Spelling as a whole school progressive and active spelling programme. Phonics and spelling is assessed regularly through their writing. We encourage Self and Peer assessment as well as regular Teacher feedback. Our Challenge Leader of Learning in Literacy (CLOL), Mr Hardie, supports Staff and children through targeted support and class lesson modelling.

Writing:

Writing skills include handwriting and creative writing. In handwriting we use the Gourdie scheme. In creative writing there are two areas: fiction and non-fiction. Here are some types of writing in each area:

Non-Fiction                            Fiction  

Persuasive                               Imaginative

Report                                       Poetry

Procedural                             Play scripts

Explanation                           Personal  

Discursive   

We use PM Writing methodology alongside Glasgow City Councils ‘Literacy for All’ strategies to support the children’s skills.

 TALKING AND LISTENING:

We encourage children to express themselves confidently in the spoken word by creating opportunities in drama, discussion, story-telling, games, poetry, speech making and listening skills. We use a variety of resources. Languages: Knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a 21st century skill set for students as they prepare to live and work in a global society.

 

MODERN LANGUAGES IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

In Wellshot Primary all teachers are now qualified to teach French as a foreign language. Teaching begins in P1 and is carried on into P.7. Other languages are introduced informally in assemblies.

 

Makaton

All of staff are undertook training in Level 1 Makaton. This happened in their own personal time to further support the development of a Language and Communication Friendly Establishment (LCfE).