Communication is an I CAN value and a curriculum priority at Waterside Academy.

Reading, vocabulary, speaking, listening and writing are everybody’s responsibility because they determine pupils’ access to every subject and to life beyond school. Literacy support is therefore both discrete and embedded across the curriculum.

Reading

Reading is taught and practised deliberately across the academy. Pupils are given regular opportunities to develop fluency, comprehension and confidence, with structured approaches such as reciprocal reading used where appropriate.

Vocabulary

Subject teachers identify and explicitly teach the vocabulary pupils need to access disciplinary knowledge. This helps pupils understand new concepts, communicate with greater precision and participate more confidently in learning.

Speaking and Listening

Pupils are given regular opportunities to explain, discuss and communicate their thinking. Oracy is used to support understanding, build confidence and help pupils participate successfully in lessons and wider school life.

Writing

Writing is developed across subjects so that pupils can communicate knowledge clearly and appropriately. Teachers support pupils to use subject-specific language and apply what they have learned in increasingly precise ways.

Targeted Support

Where assessment identifies additional barriers, targeted literacy and reading intervention is provided and reviewed for impact.

Support is designed to increase pupils’ independence and access to the curriculum, not permanently reduce the level of demand.

Communication Across the Curriculum

Reading, literacy and communication are not confined to English lessons. They are developed across subjects so that pupils can better access the curriculum, express themselves confidently and prepare for their next steps beyond Waterside.