1st Grade English Checklist: What Your Child Should Know

Phonics & Word Reading

Your child is learning to read more complex words by recognizing different letter patterns for the same sounds and breaking longer words into syllables, while also developing fluency and expression when reading aloud.

• Understanding print

  Demonstrate understanding that print carries meaning, follows left-to-right top-to-bottom directionality, and is organised page by page in books

  • Track words with a finger moving left to right across the page
  • Turn pages in the correct sequence when handling a book
  • Point to where reading starts on a page

• Knowing all letters

  Recognise and name all uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet; name the letters in order and use letter names to distinguish between alternative spellings

  • Name all 26 letters in both cases when shown in random order
  • Recite the alphabet from A to Z
  • Use letter names to explain spelling choices (e.g. 'Is it c or k in cat?')

• Single Letter Sounds

  Know the primary sound for each consonant and the short and long sounds for the five major vowels; respond speedily to single-letter graphemes

  • Say the most common sound for each consonant when shown the letter
  • Distinguish short vowel sounds in CVC words (e.g. /a/ in 'cat' vs /e/ in 'bed')
  • Associate long and short vowel sounds with common single-letter spellings

• Onsets & Rimes

  Blend and segment onsets and rimes in single-syllable words; isolate and pronounce individual phonemes (initial, medial, final) in CVC words; add or substitute phonemes to make new words

  • Blend onset and rime to say a word (e.g. /c/ + /at/ → 'cat')
  • Identify the first, middle, or last sound in a CVC word
  • Change one sound to make a new word (e.g. change /c/ in 'cat' to /b/ → 'bat')

• Rhyming words

  Recognise and produce rhyming words; join in with predictable phrases and rhymes in stories and poems; learn to appreciate and recite poems by heart

  • Identify which words rhyme from a set (e.g. cat, bat, dog)
  • Generate a word that rhymes with a given target
  • Join in with repeated refrains and rhyming patterns during shared reading

• Syllables

  Count, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words; divide written words into syllables as an aid to reading and spelling

  • Clap out syllables in spoken words (e.g. 'butterfly' = 3 claps)
  • Blend syllables to form words (e.g. 'rain' + 'bow' → 'rainbow')
  • Segment a word into its syllable parts orally

• Blending Sounds to Read Words

  Apply phonic knowledge to blend sounds in unfamiliar words containing taught grapheme-phoneme correspondences; respond speedily to graphemes for all 40+ phonemes

  • Sound out and blend unfamiliar phonically regular words (e.g. /sh/-/o/-/p/ → 'shop')
  • Read words containing taught GPCs without excessive sounding out
  • Distinguish between similarly spelled words by identifying differing letter sounds (e.g. 'big' vs 'bag')

• Alternative Spellings for Known Sounds

  Recognise alternative grapheme-phoneme correspondences for known phonemes (e.g., /dʒ/ as ge/dge/g, /s/ as c, /n/ as kn/gn, /r/ as wr, /ʒ/ as s), reading words with less common spellings for familiar sounds

  • Read words with less common spellings for familiar sounds: 'badge', 'giraffe', 'city', 'knock', 'gnaw', 'write', 'treasure'
  • Identify that the same phoneme can be represented by different graphemes (e.g., /dʒ/ spelled g, ge, dge)
  • Select the correct alternative GPC to decode an unfamiliar word in context

• Vowel Digraphs

  Read and spell words containing common vowel digraphs (ai, ay, ee, ea, oa, oe, oo, oi, oy) including where a digraph can represent more than one sound

  • Read words with vowel digraphs (e.g. 'tree', 'boat', 'rain', 'coin')
  • Distinguish between different sounds for the same digraph (e.g. 'oo' in 'book' vs 'moon')
  • Spell words using common vowel digraph patterns

• Consonant Digraphs

  Read and spell words containing consonant digraphs and less common consonant spellings (ch, sh, th, ck, tch, ng, ph, wh, k for /k/)

  • Read words with consonant digraphs (e.g. 'shop', 'chip', 'that')
  • Identify the sound made by ph (/f/) and wh (/w/) in words
  • Spell words ending in -ck (e.g. 'duck') and -tch (e.g. 'match')

• Reading High-Frequency Words by Sight

  Read common high-frequency and exception words automatically by sight, including words with irregular spelling patterns

  • Read common exception words instantly without sounding out (e.g. 'the', 'said', 'was', 'you')
  • Note unusual correspondences between spelling and sound in exception words
  • Recognise at least 20-30 high-frequency words in connected text

• Reading fluently

  Read aloud books matched to phonic ability accurately and with growing fluency; reread familiar texts to build confidence, speed, and expression

  • Read a phonically appropriate text with 90%+ accuracy
  • Reread familiar texts with improved pace and expression
  • Read emergent-reader texts with purpose and understanding

• Reading with Expression and Accuracy

  Read aloud with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression (prosody), re-reading familiar texts to build fluency and confidence, and using context to self-correct

  • Read a grade-level passage aloud with expression and appropriate pacing
  • Self-correct miscues during oral reading by re-reading or using context cues
  • Re-read a familiar book demonstrating increased fluency and confidence

• Reading Contractions

  Read and understand contractions with apostrophes, knowing the apostrophe represents omitted letters

  • Read common contractions in text (e.g. 'I'm', 'we'll', 'don't')
  • Match contractions to their expanded forms (e.g. 'I'm' = 'I am')
  • Explain that the apostrophe shows where letters are missing

• Syllables (age 6+)

  Decode words of two or more syllables by breaking them into syllable chunks, applying knowledge that every syllable must contain a vowel sound, and blending the parts together

  • Read 'rabbit', 'thunder', 'fantastic' by breaking into syllable chunks and blending
  • Clap or tap syllables in a multi-syllable word, then read each chunk before blending
  • Identify that every syllable must contain a vowel sound

• Compound Words

  Recognise and spell compound words by identifying the two component words that combine to form a single word

  • Identify the two words in a compound (e.g. 'sunshine' = 'sun' + 'shine')
  • Spell compound words by combining known words
  • Create compound words from given word pairs

• Reading Inflectional Endings

  Read words containing taught GPCs with common inflectional endings (-s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est) and the prefix un-; read multi-syllable words with taught patterns

  • Read suffixed words fluently (e.g. 'jumping', 'wanted', 'faster')
  • Identify the root word when a suffix is added
  • Read words with prefix un- (e.g. 'unhappy', 'undo')

• Trigraphs

  Read and spell words containing trigraphs — three-letter graphemes representing a single sound (igh, air, ear, are)

  • Read words with trigraphs (e.g. 'night', 'chair', 'near')
  • Distinguish between different sounds for 'ear' (e.g. 'hear' vs 'bear')
  • Identify the single phoneme represented by three letters in a word

• Diphthongs and complex vowels

  Read and spell words containing diphthongs and complex vowel patterns (ow, ou, ew, ue, ie, aw, au) and words ending in -y as a vowel sound

  • Read words with variable vowel sounds (e.g. 'ow' in 'cow' vs 'snow')
  • Decode words with diphthongs (e.g. 'cloud', 'blue', 'pie')
  • Read words ending in -y pronounced as /ee/ or /igh/ (e.g. 'happy', 'my')

• Split Digraphs and Magic E

  Read and spell words containing split digraphs (a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, u-e) where a final 'e' makes the preceding vowel long

  • Read words with split digraphs (e.g. 'cake', 'bike', 'home', 'cube')
  • Compare minimal pairs showing the effect of the split digraph (e.g. 'cap' vs 'cape')
  • Spell words with split digraphs correctly

• R-Controlled Vowel Sounds

  Read and spell words containing r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, ur, or, ore) and vowel-r patterns where 'r' modifies the vowel sound

  • Read words with r-controlled vowels (e.g. 'car', 'bird', 'fork', 'her')
  • Recognise that 'r' changes the vowel sound (e.g. 'cat' vs 'cart')
  • Spell words with common r-controlled patterns

Grammar & Punctuation

Your child is learning important grammar skills — understanding how to build more complex sentences, use punctuation correctly, and choose the right words to make their writing clearer and more interesting.

• Building sentences

  Understand that words combine to make sentences — a sentence expresses a complete thought; produce and expand complete sentences in speech and writing

  • Distinguish between complete sentences and fragments
  • Compose a complete sentence with a subject and verb
  • Expand a simple sentence by adding detail

• Past, Present and Progressive Tense

  Use verbs to convey past and present tense correctly and consistently, including the progressive form (e.g., she is drumming, he was shouting), understanding how tense indicates time

  • Write a passage consistently in past tense without switching to present
  • Use progressive forms correctly: 'was running', 'is jumping' to show ongoing actions
  • Identify verbs in a sentence and change them from past to present tense or vice versa

• Starting and Ending Sentences

  Begin sentences with a capital letter and end them with the appropriate mark (full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark); recognise and name end punctuation

  • Write sentences beginning with a capital letter
  • Choose and use the correct end punctuation for statements, questions, and exclamations
  • Identify and name full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks when reading

• Basic Nouns & Verbs

  Use frequently occurring nouns (people, places, things) and verbs (action words) appropriately in speech and writing

  • Use common nouns accurately in sentences (e.g. 'dog', 'school', 'book')
  • Use action verbs appropriately (e.g. 'run', 'eat', 'play')
  • Identify nouns and verbs in simple sentences when prompted

• Four Types of Sentences

  Understand and use the four sentence types — statement, question, exclamation, and command — recognising how grammatical patterns indicate sentence function

  • Write or identify a statement, question, exclamation, and command from a set of sentences
  • Match each sentence type to its correct end punctuation mark
  • Transform a statement into a question or command on request

• Question Words

  Understand and use question words (who, what, where, when, why, how) to form and answer questions

  • Ask questions using appropriate question words
  • Answer who, what, where, when questions about familiar topics
  • Recognise that question words signal a question is being asked

• Commas in lists

  Use commas to separate items in a list within a sentence (e.g., 'I bought apples, bananas, and oranges')

  • Write a sentence containing a list of 3+ items separated by commas: 'I bought apples, bananas, and oranges'
  • Identify where commas should go in an unpunctuated list sentence
  • Explain that commas separate items in a list so the reader knows each item

• Grammar Terms: Nouns, Verbs and Tense

  Use and understand Year 2 grammatical terminology in discussion: noun, noun phrase, statement, question, exclamation, command, compound, suffix, adjective, adverb, verb, tense (past/present), apostrophe, comma

  • Use the term 'noun phrase' when discussing expanded noun phrases in own writing
  • Identify adjectives, adverbs, and verbs in sentences using correct terminology
  • Explain what 'tense' means and give an example of past and present tense

• Subordinate clauses

  Use subordination (when, if, that, because) and co-ordination (or, and, but) to join clauses and create compound and complex sentences

  • Write 'I stayed inside because it was raining' using a subordinating conjunction
  • Use 'but' and 'or' to join ideas: 'I wanted to play but it was raining'
  • Use 'when' and 'if' clauses in writing: 'If it stops raining, we can go outside'

• Joining Words with 'And'

  Join words and clauses using the conjunction 'and' to create longer sentences

  • Combine two simple sentences using 'and' (e.g. 'I like cats and dogs')
  • Join two related clauses with 'and' (e.g. 'We went to the park and we played')
  • Use 'and' in lists of items within a sentence

• Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession

  Use apostrophes in writing for both contraction (marking omitted letters) and singular possession, distinguishing the two uses

  • Use apostrophes correctly in both 'don't' and 'Sam's bag' within the same piece of writing
  • Explain the difference between apostrophe for contraction and apostrophe for possession
  • Correct misplaced or missing apostrophes in a set of sentences

• Expanded noun phrases

  Use expanded noun phrases to describe and specify, adding adjectives and other modifiers before a noun (e.g., 'the blue butterfly', 'the old, creaky door')

  • Expand 'the cat' into 'the fluffy black cat' by adding adjectives
  • Use noun phrases with two or more modifiers in independent writing
  • Choose precise adjectives to make a noun phrase more vivid: e.g., 'a tiny, shivering kitten'

• Regular Plural Nouns

  Form and use regular plural nouns orally and in writing by adding -s or -es; understand that plural means more than one

  • Say and write correct plural forms (e.g. 'one cat, two cats'; 'one wish, two wishes')
  • Choose -s or -es correctly based on the ending sound
  • Explain that plural nouns name more than one

• Prepositions

  Understand and use the most frequently occurring prepositions of location and direction (e.g. to, from, in, out, on, off, for, by, with)

  • Use prepositions correctly in sentences (e.g. 'on the table', 'under the bed')
  • Follow instructions involving prepositions (e.g. 'Put the book on the shelf')
  • Describe positions using prepositional phrases

• Grammar words: letter, word, sentence

  Use basic grammatical terminology when discussing reading and writing: letter, capital letter, word, singular, plural, sentence, punctuation, full stop, question mark, exclamation mark

  • Name punctuation marks correctly when pointed out in text
  • Use terms like 'capital letter' and 'full stop' when editing writing
  • Explain what a 'sentence' is using the correct term

• Pronouns

  Use personal, possessive, and indefinite pronouns correctly (e.g., I/me/my, they/them/their, anyone/everything), replacing nouns to avoid repetition

  • Replace a repeated noun with a pronoun: 'The dog was happy. He wagged his tail.'
  • Use I/me correctly in subject and object position in a sentence
  • Choose the correct possessive pronoun (my/his/her/their) to match the noun it replaces

• Subject-verb agreement

  Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in sentences, maintaining subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'He hops' vs 'We hop')

  • Write 'The dog runs' (singular) and 'The dogs run' (plural) with correct verb agreement
  • Correct subject-verb agreement errors in sentences: fix 'The children plays' to 'The children play'
  • Choose the correct verb form to match a singular or plural subject in a gap-fill exercise

• Spaces Between Words

  Separate words with spaces in writing; understand that spaces mark word boundaries in print

  • Leave clear finger-spaces between words when writing
  • Count the number of words in a written sentence by identifying spaces
  • Correct writing that has missing spaces between words

• Capitals for Names, Days and I

  Use capital letters for proper nouns (names of people, places) the days of the week, and the personal pronoun 'I'

  • Capitalise names of people and places consistently in writing
  • Write the pronoun 'I' as a capital letter
  • Capitalise days of the week (e.g. 'Monday')

• Determiners and articles

  Use determiners (articles a/an/the and demonstratives this/that/these/those) correctly before nouns

  • Use 'a' before consonant sounds and 'an' before vowel sounds correctly: 'a ball', 'an apple'
  • Distinguish 'this/these' (near) from 'that/those' (far) when pointing to objects
  • Select the correct article (a/an/the) to complete a sentence

Reading Comprehension

Your child is developing deeper reading skills — understanding how stories are structured, identifying main ideas in informational texts, comparing characters' perspectives, and recognising how different text features help organise information.

• Listening to Texts Read Aloud

  Listen to and discuss poems, stories, and non-fiction at a level beyond independent reading; confirm understanding of texts read aloud by asking and answering questions about key details

  • Answer questions about a story or non-fiction text read aloud by the teacher
  • Discuss events, characters, or ideas from chapter books read to the class
  • Ask for clarification when something in a read-aloud is not understood

• Characters, settings, and events

  Identify characters, settings, and major events in stories; become familiar with key stories, fairy tales, and traditional tales and retell them with key details in sequence

  • Name the main characters in a story
  • Describe where and when a story takes place
  • Retell a familiar story including beginning, middle, and end events

• Main Topic of Informational Texts

  Identify the main topic and retell key details of informational texts; describe connections between individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information

  • State what a non-fiction text is mostly about in one sentence
  • List two or three important facts learned from an informational text
  • Explain how two events or ideas in a text are connected

• Reading between the lines

  Ask and answer questions about key details in literary and informational texts; make simple inferences based on what characters say and do

  • Answer 'who', 'what', 'where' questions about a text using evidence
  • Infer a character's feelings from their actions (e.g. 'She's sad because she's crying')
  • Make logical guesses about unstated information using text clues

• Self-Correcting While Reading

  Check that text makes sense while reading and self-correct inaccurate reading by re-reading or using context

  • Notice when reading does not make sense and stop to re-read
  • Self-correct errors mid-sentence (e.g. 'Wait, that doesn't sound right')
  • Use meaning, sentence structure, and visual cues together to monitor reading

• Story Sequence and Central Message

  Discuss the sequence of events in narrative texts and how items of information are related in non-fiction, retelling stories including key details and demonstrating understanding of central message or lesson

  • Retell a story in correct sequence with beginning, middle, and end
  • Identify the central message or lesson of a story
  • Explain how two pieces of information in a non-fiction text are connected

• Book Features and Author's Reasons

  Identify front cover, back cover, and title page of a book; identify the reasons an author gives to support points in informational text

  • Point to and name parts of a book (front cover, back cover, title page)
  • Use the title page to find the title, author, and illustrator
  • Identify a reason the author gives for a claim in a simple non-fiction text

• Non-Fiction Text Features

  Recognise different non-fiction text structures and features (headings, contents, glossary, index), understanding how texts are organised to present information

  • Use a contents page to find information on a specific topic in a non-fiction book
  • Identify the purpose of headings, glossary, and index in an information text
  • Recognise that non-fiction books can be structured as lists, time order, or question-and-answer

• Predicting what happens next

  Predict what might happen next in a story based on what has been read so far; discuss the significance of titles and events

  • Make a prediction before turning the page and explain reasoning
  • Discuss why a title fits or hints at the story content
  • Revise predictions as new information is encountered in the text

• Characters' Viewpoints and Responses

  Identify and compare characters' points of view, recognise who is narrating a story, describe how characters respond to events and challenges, and compare characters' experiences across different stories or versions of the same story

  • Identify who is telling a story and explain how you know (e.g. 'The wolf is telling the story because he says I')
  • Describe how a character responds to a problem or challenge using evidence from the text (e.g. 'When the bridge broke, she decided to swim across')
  • Compare how two characters from different stories react to a similar situation (e.g. how two heroes show bravery in different ways)

• Retelling Stories with Structure

  Retell stories including key details in sequence, describe characters, settings, and major events using evidence from the text, and describe the overall structure of a story (beginning, middle, ending)

  • Retell a familiar story in order, including at least three key details from beginning, middle, and end
  • Describe a character's appearance, actions, or personality using details from the text
  • Explain how the beginning of a story introduces the characters and setting, and how the ending concludes the action

• Expressive and Sensory Language

  Recognise recurring literary language in stories and poetry, identify words and phrases that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses, and discuss favourite words and phrases

  • Spot recurring story language such as 'Once upon a time' and 'happily ever after'
  • Identify sensory words and phrases in a poem: 'the icy wind howled'
  • Share a favourite word or phrase from a story and explain why it appeals

• Comparing Characters Across Stories

  Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories; identify similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic

  • Identify what two stories have in common (e.g. 'Both have a bear character')
  • Compare information from two books about the same topic
  • Discuss how characters' experiences are similar or different across stories

• Main Topic & Key Details

  Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph informational text, determine the focus of specific paragraphs, and explain how key details support the main idea

  • Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph informational text and state the focus of individual paragraphs
  • Describe how specific details and facts in the text support the main idea
  • Explain how events, ideas, or steps in a text are connected (e.g. cause-effect, sequence, comparison)

• Connecting reading to experience

  Link what is read or heard to own experiences; draw on background knowledge and vocabulary to support understanding of texts

  • Make text-to-self connections (e.g. 'This reminds me of when I...')
  • Use personal experience to understand a character's feelings
  • Relate events in a story to own life to deepen comprehension

• Discussing Texts as a Group

  Participate in discussions about what is read, taking turns and listening to others; explain understanding clearly; actively engage in group reading activities

  • Share ideas about a book in a group discussion
  • Listen to and respond to others' opinions about a text
  • Take turns speaking and build on what classmates have said about a book

• Different Types of Texts

  Recognise common types of texts (storybooks, poems, non-fiction); name the author and illustrator and define the role of each in telling or presenting a text

  • Distinguish between a story, a poem, and a non-fiction book
  • Point to and name the author and illustrator on the cover
  • Explain that the author writes the words and the illustrator makes the pictures

• Pictures and Text Working Together

  Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear; use pictures to support and extend comprehension

  • Use pictures to predict or confirm story events
  • Describe what is happening in an illustration and how it relates to the text
  • Explain how an illustration adds information not stated in words

Writing Composition

Your child is learning to write for different purposes beyond stories — including opinions, explanations, and poetry — while developing planning skills, building writing stamina, and learning to revise and proofread their work.

• Saying Sentences Before Writing Them

  Say out loud what is going to be written; compose sentences orally before writing them down as preparation for independent writing

  • Say a complete sentence aloud before attempting to write it
  • Rehearse a sentence orally more than once to hold it in memory
  • Practise sentences with a partner before writing independently

• Writing Process Vocabulary

  Know and use the vocabulary of the writing process — compose, plan, draft, revise, edit, proofread, genre, audience, purpose, narrative, recount, instruction, paragraph, sequence, and detail — and understand that these words describe distinct steps and decisions that all writers make, not just tasks to tick off

  • Use 'compose', 'revise', and 'edit' correctly when describing the stages of writing
  • Explain who the 'audience' is for a piece of writing and how that changes what they write
  • Describe the purpose of a piece of writing (to persuade, inform, entertain, or instruct) and match their language to it

• Simple Stories with Beginning and Ending

  Write simple narratives by sequencing sentences to describe events in order; narrate a single event or linked events with a beginning, middle, and ending or reaction

  • Write a short story with at least three sequenced sentences
  • Use time words like 'first', 'then', 'next' to order events
  • Include a reaction or ending to a narrative (e.g. 'I felt happy')

• Revising and editing

  Proof-read own writing to check for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation; evaluate and revise writing with teacher/peer support, re-reading to ensure meaning is clear and tense is consistent

  • Re-read own writing and spot a missing full stop or capital letter
  • Identify and correct a tense inconsistency in a piece of writing
  • Discuss improvements with a partner and make at least one revision to strengthen the writing

• Building Writing Stamina

  Write about real events and for different purposes, developing stamina for sustained writing across genres beyond narrative (e.g., recounts, letters, instructions)

  • Write a recount of a school trip using temporal connectives (first, then, after that)
  • Write a simple set of instructions with numbered steps
  • Sustain writing for an extended period across a full page without stopping

• Responding to Writing Feedback

  With teacher guidance, re-read own writing aloud to check it sounds right; listen and respond to questions and suggestions from teacher or peers to add detail, clarify meaning, and strengthen writing — this is the scaffolded beginning of writing self-evaluation, not an independent skill

  • Reread own writing and spot a missing word or unclear sentence
  • Add a detail in response to a question (e.g. 'Can you tell me more about...?')
  • Make at least one improvement to a piece based on feedback

• Writing to inform

  Compose informative or explanatory texts using drawing, dictating, or writing that name a topic and supply some information about it

  • Write or dictate two or three facts about a familiar topic
  • Label diagrams or drawings with informative details
  • Name a topic and provide relevant details about it

• Planning Ideas Before Writing

  Plan before writing by saying aloud or noting down what will be written, writing down ideas and key words, and encapsulating ideas sentence by sentence before composing

  • Verbally rehearse sentences before writing them down
  • Jot key words or ideas in a planning format (e.g., story map) before drafting
  • Write a simple plan with beginning, middle, and end for a story

• Writing Poetry

  Write poetry, exploring patterns of language, rhyme and rhythm, and learning poems by heart for recitation with appropriate intonation

  • Write a simple poem using rhyming couplets or a repeated pattern
  • Recite a poem from memory with expression and appropriate intonation
  • Identify rhyme and rhythm patterns in poems read aloud

• Writing opinions

  Compose opinion pieces using drawing, dictating, or writing that name a topic or book and state a preference or opinion about it

  • State an opinion clearly (e.g. 'My favourite animal is a dog because...')
  • Give at least one reason for an opinion
  • Draw, dictate, or write to express a preference about a book or topic

• Basic Informational Writing

  Compose informative or explanatory texts that introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section

  • Write an informative text that introduces a topic clearly and groups related information together
  • Use facts, definitions, and concrete details to develop and explain points about the topic
  • Provide a concluding statement or section that wraps up the information presented

• Shared Research Projects

  Participate in shared research and writing projects; recall information from experiences or gather information from sources to answer a question

  • Contribute ideas and information to a class writing project
  • Draw or write facts learned from personal experience about a topic
  • Help gather information from books or adults for a group research task

• Structured Opinion Writing

  Compose opinion pieces that introduce a topic, state a clear point of view, provide organised reasons linked with connecting words, and include a concluding statement or section

  • Write an opinion piece that introduces the topic, states a clear opinion, and provides at least two reasons
  • Use linking words (because, and, also, for example) to connect the opinion to supporting reasons
  • End an opinion piece with a concluding statement that restates or reinforces the opinion

• Sharing and Publishing Your Writing

  Read own writing aloud clearly enough to be heard by peers and the teacher; use digital tools to produce and publish writing

  • Read own sentences aloud with clear voice and appropriate expression
  • Share a piece of writing by reading it to the class
  • Type simple words or sentences using a computer or tablet

Spelling & Word Study

Your child is learning more advanced spelling rules, including how to add suffixes that change the root word, use apostrophes correctly in contractions and possessives, and spell words with alternative letter patterns for familiar sounds.

• Segmenting words into sounds

  Segment spoken words into phonemes and spell CVC and simple phonetically regular words by writing a letter or letters for each sound

  • Write CVC words from dictation (e.g. 'cat', 'bed', 'hot')
  • Segment words into individual sounds before choosing letters to write
  • Spell simple words phonetically drawing on sound-letter knowledge

• Phonics Vocabulary

  Know and use the vocabulary of phonics and word structure — phoneme, grapheme, GPC (grapheme-phoneme correspondence), blend, segment, digraph, CVC, vowel, consonant, syllable, root word, suffix, prefix, and homophone — and understand that these words describe the building blocks that phonics instruction is built on

  • Say the sounds for common graphemes (e.g. 'sh', 'ch', 'th', 'ee', 'igh') and use 'phoneme' and 'grapheme' correctly when explaining
  • Blend sounds together to read an unfamiliar word and explain what they are doing using the word 'blend'
  • Segment a word into its individual sounds for spelling and use the term 'segment' to describe the process

• Apostrophes for possession

  Use the possessive apostrophe with singular nouns to show ownership (e.g., the girl's book, the dog's bone)

  • Write 'the cat's tail' to show the tail belongs to the cat
  • Distinguish plural -s ('the cats ran') from possessive 's ('the cat's bed') in writing
  • Add a possessive apostrophe to a singular noun in a dictated sentence

• Spelling Contracted Forms

  Spell contracted forms correctly by placing the apostrophe where letters are omitted (can't, didn't, I'll, it's, etc.)

  • Write 'can't' for 'cannot', 'didn't' for 'did not' with apostrophe correctly placed
  • Distinguish 'it's' (it is) from 'its' (possessive) in a sentence
  • Expand a contraction back to its full form and explain which letters are missing

• Alternative Spellings for Sounds

  Spell words using alternative grapheme choices for known phonemes, learning new spellings for sounds already encountered (e.g., /ɔ:/ as 'a' before ll, /ʌ/ as 'o', words ending -tion), including distinguishing common homophones

  • Spell 'ball', 'call', 'walk' using alternative grapheme /ɔ:/ as 'a' before ll
  • Distinguish homophones in writing: 'there/their/they’re', 'here/hear', 'quite/quiet'
  • Spell words ending in -tion correctly: 'station', 'fiction', 'motion'

• Spelling Verb Endings

  Spell words with common suffixes (-s/-es for plurals and third person verbs, -ing, -ed, -er, -est) where no change to the root word is needed

  • Add -s or -es correctly to make plurals (e.g. 'cats', 'boxes')
  • Spell words with -ing and -ed endings (e.g. 'jumping', 'helped')
  • Add -er and -est to adjectives (e.g. 'quicker', 'quickest')

• Suffixes

  Apply suffix spelling rules that require changes to the root word: dropping final -e before vowel suffixes, changing -y to -i, doubling final consonants in short-vowel words; use suffixes -ment, -ness, -ful, -less, -ly

  • Spell 'hoping' (drop e), 'cried' (y to i), 'running' (double consonant) applying the correct rule
  • Add -ful, -less, -ness, -ly correctly: 'careful', 'hopeless', 'sadness', 'slowly'
  • Identify which suffix rule to apply to a given root word and explain why

• The Prefix un-

  Spell words using the prefix un- to change meaning; understand that un- creates opposites or reverses actions

  • Spell words with un- prefix correctly (e.g. 'unhappy', 'unfair', 'undo')
  • Explain how un- changes the meaning of a word
  • Create new words by adding un- to known words

• Tricky words

  Spell common exception words from memory that do not follow regular phonic patterns, including the days of the week

  • Correctly spell high-frequency irregular words (e.g. 'said', 'the', 'was')
  • Write all seven days of the week correctly
  • Recall and write exception words in dictated sentences

• Spelling from Dictation

  Write simple sentences from memory when dictated by the teacher, applying taught GPCs, spelling rules, and common exception words

  • Write a dictated sentence using phonically plausible spellings
  • Include correct spelling of taught exception words in dictation
  • Apply sentence punctuation in dictated writing

Speaking & Listening

Your child is building confidence in speaking aloud — memorising and performing poems with expression, and learning to speak clearly in complete sentences when presenting to others.

• Listening and responding

  Listen and respond appropriately to adults and peers; follow agreed-upon rules for discussion such as listening to others and taking turns speaking

  • Demonstrate attentive listening by making eye contact and responding relevantly
  • Follow classroom discussion rules (e.g. raise hand, wait for turn)
  • Show understanding of what was said by paraphrasing or responding appropriately

• Exploring Ideas Through Talk

  Use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining, and exploring ideas; use strategies to build vocabulary through talk

  • Wonder aloud about possibilities (e.g. 'What if...' or 'I think it might be because...')
  • Try out new vocabulary in conversation after hearing it in a story or lesson
  • Explore ideas through talk before committing them to writing

• Group discussions

  Participate actively in collaborative conversations staying on topic; continue a conversation through multiple exchanges; maintain attention in discussions

  • Stay on topic during a conversation for multiple turns
  • Build on what another speaker has said (e.g. 'I agree because...')
  • Maintain focus and contribute meaningfully in group discussions

• Describing Aloud

  Describe familiar people, places, things, and events with detail; speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly; give well-structured descriptions and explanations

  • Describe a familiar person or place using several details
  • Speak clearly and loudly enough for the whole group to hear
  • Organise ideas logically when sharing information or telling about an event

• Expressing & Justifying Opinions

  Articulate and justify answers, arguments, and opinions; participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, and debates

  • State an opinion and give a reason (e.g. 'I think ... because ...')
  • Participate in a class presentation or performance with confidence
  • Explain thinking when answering a question rather than just giving a one-word answer

• Asking Questions

  Ask relevant questions to extend understanding; ask and answer questions to seek help, get information, or clarify something not understood

  • Ask a question when something is unclear or more information is needed
  • Answer questions with relevant and specific information
  • Request clarification politely (e.g. 'Can you explain that again?')

• Reciting Poetry

  Learn poems by heart and recite with appropriate intonation, adding visual displays to descriptions when appropriate, and producing complete sentences in spoken presentations

  • Recite a poem from memory with expression and clear enunciation
  • Add a drawing or visual display to support an oral description or presentation
  • Present information to the class using complete sentences and audible voice

Vocabulary

Your child is learning how words are built and connected — discovering how root words change with different endings (like look/looks/looked) and learning to define words by describing what category they belong to and their key features.

• Discussing and Questioning New Words

  Ask and answer questions about unknown words in texts; discuss word meanings and link new vocabulary to words already known

  • Ask 'What does ___ mean?' when meeting unfamiliar words during reading
  • Use context and pictures to work out what a new word might mean
  • Explain a new word by connecting it to a known word (e.g. 'enormous means really really big')

• Sorting & Categorising Words

  Sort common objects and words into categories to understand how concepts relate; demonstrate understanding of opposites (antonyms) for common verbs and adjectives

  • Group words or objects by category (e.g. animals, foods, colours)
  • Identify and produce opposite pairs (e.g. 'big/small', 'hot/cold', 'go/stop')
  • Explain why items belong together in a category

• Defining Words

  Define words by category and by one or more key attributes (e.g., 'a duck is a bird that swims'), making real-life connections between words and their use

  • Define 'tiger' as 'a large cat with stripes' — naming category and key attribute
  • Connect the word 'cozy' to real-life examples: places at home that feel cozy
  • Sort words into categories and explain why each word belongs

• Shades of Meaning

  Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing similar actions and among adjectives differing in intensity; make real-life connections between words and their use

  • Compare similar verbs by acting them out (e.g. 'walk', 'march', 'strut', 'prance')
  • Order adjectives by intensity (e.g. big, huge, gigantic)
  • Connect vocabulary to personal experiences (e.g. note things at school that are 'colourful')

• Using New Vocabulary

  Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, being read to, and responding to texts in own speech and writing

  • Incorporate new vocabulary from read-alouds into conversations
  • Attempt to use interesting or topic-specific words in own writing
  • Use newly learned words appropriately in different contexts

• Root Words & Inflections

  Identify frequently occurring root words and their inflectional forms (e.g., look/looks/looked/looking), using affixes as clues to word meaning and understanding how suffixes create nouns and adjectives

  • Identify 'play' as the root in 'played', 'playing', 'player'
  • Explain that '-ful' in 'careful' means 'full of care'
  • Use '-ness' and '-er' to form nouns from root words: 'sad → sadness', 'teach → teacher'

• Word Parts as Clues

  Use knowledge of common inflections and affixes (-ed, -s, un-, -er) as clues to the meaning of unknown words; understand how the prefix un- changes meaning

  • Recognise that -ed signals past tense (e.g. 'jumped' = already happened)
  • Explain how un- makes a word mean the opposite (e.g. 'unhappy' = not happy)
  • Use word parts to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word

Handwriting & Transcription

Your child is learning to join letters together when writing, developing smooth handwriting by connecting letters with diagonal and horizontal strokes while keeping letters the right size.

• Sitting and holding a pencil

  Sit correctly at a table holding a pencil comfortably and correctly; form lower-case letters in the correct direction starting and finishing in the right place

  • Hold a pencil with a comfortable tripod or near-tripod grip
  • Write all 26 lowercase letters with correct starting points and direction
  • Maintain consistent letter size on lined paper

• Writing digits 0-9

  Form digits 0-9 correctly and legibly

  • Write all digits 0-9 clearly with correct starting points
  • Form digits the appropriate size relative to letter height
  • Write numbers legibly so they can be read by others

• Forming Capital Letters

  Form capital letters correctly; print many upper- and lowercase letters legibly

  • Write all 26 capital letters with correct formation
  • Distinguish between uppercase and lowercase forms in own writing
  • Use appropriate sizing so capitals are taller than lowercase letters

• Joining Letters

  Begin to join letters using diagonal and horizontal strokes, understanding which letter pairs are best left unjoined, forming letters of correct size relative to one another

  • Join 'in', 'un', 'it' with a diagonal stroke connecting the letters
  • Leave letters like 'b' unjoined when followed by certain letters, explaining why
  • Write with consistent letter sizing on lined paper, ascenders and descenders in proportion

• Letter Formation Families

  Understand which letters belong to which handwriting families based on similar formation patterns and practise letters in groups

  • Group letters by similar strokes (e.g. c, a, d, g, o family — all start with a curve)
  • Explain why certain letters are practised together
  • Form letters within the same family consistently using the shared movement pattern

English Thinking

• Reading for Meaning

  Understand that reading is about making meaning, not just saying words correctly — a text that can be decoded but not understood has not been read

  • Simple View of Reading (Gough & Tunmer)
  • reading comprehension research on comprehension-decoding separation

• Monitoring Comprehension

  Notice the difference between decoding words and actually understanding them — recognise when you've read the words but not grasped the meaning, and do something about it

  • comprehension monitoring research
  • Metacognitive Monitoring in Reading Comprehension (MDPI 2024)