At Hiba, we believe the journey to becoming a confident, articulate and passionate reader and writer begins not with a pen, but with a sound. In the vibrant, formative years of Key Stage 1, we lay an unshakeable foundation for literacy, weaving together rigorous academic standards with a deep commitment to nurturing each child's unique voice. Our English curriculum is a carefully orchestrated symphony of evidence-based methodologies, delivered within the framework of the British curriculum, designed to ensure every child not only learns but thrives.

We understand that fluency is born from code-breaking. This is why our phonics instruction is powered by the celebrated Read Write Inc. programme. This systematic and dynamic approach transforms abstract letters into familiar friends and sounds. Through lively, consistent sessions, our children quickly grasp the phonetic code of the English language, blending sounds into words with growing speed and confidence.

Read Write Inc. is more than just a reading tool, it is the key that unlocks the written world. It ensures that decoding becomes automatic, freeing our young learners to focus on what matters most: understanding and enjoying the story before them. This precision in early reading instruction ensures no child is left behind, building a culture of success from the very first steps.

*Read Write Inc. is a systematic early literacy programme originating in the UK, designed primarily for children in the final year of nursery and the early years of primary school. At its core, it uses a structured phonics approach to help children develop strong foundations in reading and spelling. The programme is published by Oxford University Press and is widely used in schools around the world.

Once technical skills are secure, we focus on cultivating deep comprehension and critical thinking. This is where our Guided Reading sessions, using the Reciprocal Reading model, come to life. Moving beyond passive listening, children actively step into the roles of Predictor, Questioner, Clarifier and Summariser. This collaborative, dialogic approach turns reading into a group investigation.

They learn to predict plot twists, question a character's motives, clarify unfamiliar vocabulary, and discuss key events. Reciprocal Reading fosters a classroom where children teach and learn from each other, developing not just literacy skills but also leadership, empathy, and reasoned debate. They become metacognitive readers, aware of their own understanding and equipped with strategies to deepen it.

While reading and writing are paramount, we believe that oracy, the ability to articulate ideas, listen critically, and communicate effectively, is the often-overlooked pillar of true literacy. At Hiba, we place oracy at the heart of our curriculum through a targeted approach inspired by Voice 21.

Our classrooms are alive with purposeful talk. We introduce pupils to engaging characters that embody key communication skills, perhaps a thoughtful 'Connector' who builds on others' ideas or a clear 'Explainer' who sequences their thoughts. This framework makes abstract skills tangible and fun.

Through structured discussions, presentations, drama, and storytelling, children learn to organise their thinking, choose precise vocabulary and speak with poise and empathy. This intentional cultivation of voice ensures our children can express their understanding, creativity, and perspectives with confidence, preparing them for every future academic and social challenge.

These powerful methodologies are delivered within a robust structure. We follow a rigorous British curriculum, ensuring breadth, depth, and clear progression. At Hiba, our teaching is anchored in backwards planning, a strategic approach that begins with the end goal in mind.

For every writing unit, we start with a high-quality model text of the genre pupils will master, whether a gripping narrative, a persuasive letter, or a detailed recount. Through explicit analysis, children deconstruct the text's key features: its structure, language techniques and purpose. Lessons are then meticulously sequenced backwards, systematically teaching each skill, from crafting vivid descriptions to structuring cohesive paragraphs, ensuring pupils build confidence and competence. By the unit's end, they independently apply these tools to create their own polished piece, mirroring the depth and creativity of the model. This method transforms writing from an abstract challenge into an achievable, step-by-step journey, where every child knows not just what to write, but how to excel.

Our teachers begin with the end in mind: What are the key knowledge, skills, and outcomes we want our children to master? From this clear destination, we carefully plan each lesson sequence, activity, and assessment backward. This ensures that every phonics session, every guided reading discussion, and every oracy task is intentional, coherent and builds systematically towards well-defined learning goals.

It allows for adaptive teaching, ensuring we can support and stretch every learner on their journey. This strategic framework guarantees that the creativity and energy in our classrooms are always channelled towards meaningful, measurable progress.

At Hiba, KS1 English is not a collection of isolated lessons. It is a holistic, immersive experience where:

Read Write Inc. provides the essential code

Reciprocal Reading builds the comprehension toolkit

Our Voice 21 oracy focus empowers confident self-expression

All seamlessly integrated through a rigorous, backwards-planned British curriculum.

We are not merely teaching children to read and write, we are nurturing thoughtful communicators, critical thinkers and lifelong lovers of language. We pride ourselves on an approach where precision meets passion and where every child is given the tools, the confidence and the voice to shine.