Curriculum
An Ambitious Curriculum
Longwill provides an ambitious, broad and carefully sequenced curriculum from EYFS to Year 6. The curriculum is rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum, while being deliberately adapted so Deaf pupils can access subject knowledge, language and experiences fully.
Our curriculum is designed to help pupils know more, remember more and do more. Teachers identify the essential knowledge and skills pupils should learn, revisit important vocabulary and concepts, and use visual, practical and sign-bilingual teaching approaches to remove barriers without lowering expectations.
Deaf identity, language, communication, independence, safeguarding, diversity and the rights of the child run through the curriculum. Deaf people are represented as artists, scientists, leaders, athletes, professionals and community members across subjects, not only when disability is the topic.
Assessment is purposeful and accessible. Evidence of learning may include written or spoken English, BSL explanation, practical application, demonstration, observation and work completed with agreed access arrangements.
Phonics & Early Reading
At Longwill, we are committed to providing every child with the skills and confidence to become successful readers and writers. We use Little Wandle Letters, a systematic and structured phonics programme that supports children in developing their reading, spelling and language skills.
Recognising the unique learning needs of Deaf children, we enhance our phonics teaching through the use of Visual Phonics, developed by our very own Babs Day.
Visual Phonics
Visual Phonics uses hand cues and visual prompts to represent the sounds of spoken English, helping children to see and understand how sounds are formed. This provides an additional visual bridge between spoken language, phonics, reading and spelling.
An Accessible Approach
By combining Little Wandle with Visual Phonics, we create a highly accessible approach to phonics instruction.
Sound & Language
Supporting children to develop sound awareness, phonological knowledge and stronger expressive and receptive language skills.
Reading & Spelling
Helping pupils make clear connections between sounds, letters, signs and written words while building confidence in reading and spelling.
Visual Learning
Enabling pupils to access the English curriculum through visual, multisensory and sign-supported learning strategies.
How We Support Pupils
Our specialist staff carefully adapt phonics teaching to meet the needs of each child, ensuring lessons are engaging, meaningful and accessible.
We recognise that Deaf children may access and develop language differently, and our approach reflects the importance of providing visual, sign-supported and language-rich learning opportunities.
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Developing sound awareness and phonological knowledge.
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Making connections between sounds, letters, signs and written words.
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Building confidence in reading and spelling.
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Strengthening expressive and receptive language skills.
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Accessing the English curriculum through visual and multisensory learning strategies.
Working with Families
We work closely with families to share phonics learning and provide practical strategies that can be used at home to support reading development.
Through a strong partnership between school and home, we help children develop a lifelong love of reading while building the literacy foundations they need for future success.
Supporting reading at home as well as in school helps children build confidence, reinforce new learning and develop positive habits around books and language.
Find Out More
For more information about our phonics programme, please visit the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised website or speak to a member of our teaching team.
Visit Little Wandle