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At Burhill Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the very best start. Our approach is built around securing the foundational knowledge, skills and learning behaviours that children need to become confident, successful learners. From Nursery and Reception through to Year 6, we place a strong emphasis on developing language, reading, writing, mathematics and self-regulation so that every child is equipped to access increasingly ambitious learning across the curriculum.

Central to this is The Burhill Way. Our values of Be Ready, Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe create a culture where children feel known, valued and supported. These values underpin our classrooms, our relationships and our approach to learning, helping children develop the confidence, resilience and independence needed to thrive both academically and socially.

A Strong Foundation in Language and Oracy

We know that spoken language is the foundation upon which reading, writing and learning are built. Developing children's communication skills is therefore a priority from the moment they join Burhill.

Across the school, teachers explicitly develop vocabulary, speaking and listening skills through high-quality questioning, discussion, partner talk, oral rehearsal and rich curriculum experiences. In Early Years, adults model ambitious vocabulary and engage children in meaningful conversations and sustained interactions that extend their thinking and language. As pupils move through the school, structured opportunities for talk enable them to explain their reasoning, justify their ideas and communicate with increasing confidence and precision.

Our focus on oracy ensures that children develop the language structures and confidence they need to succeed in reading, writing and across the wider curriculum.

Building Successful Readers

Reading lies at the heart of everything we do. We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to provide a rigorous and systematic approach to phonics teaching in Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1. Daily phonics lessons enable children to develop secure decoding skills, reading accuracy and automatic word recognition. Pupils who need additional support receive targeted intervention to ensure they keep up and achieve success.

Alongside phonics, we have embedded a structured Reading Fluency approach. Children are taught to read with accuracy, automaticity and expression, helping them move beyond decoding to understanding and enjoying what they read. Regular assessment and targeted support ensure that pupils who need additional help receive timely intervention, with this support extending into Key Stage 2 where necessary.

Strong Foundations for Writing

At Burhill, we recognise that successful writing depends on the secure development of foundational skills. Children are explicitly taught the building blocks of writing, including phonics, vocabulary, sentence construction, spelling and transcription skills.

A consistent handwriting programme is embedded throughout Early Years and Key Stage 1. Children develop pencil control, letter formation and writing fluency through carefully planned daily practice. By securing these essential skills early, pupils are able to focus their attention on composition, creativity and communication as they progress through the school.

Developing Confident Mathematicians

Mathematical fluency begins with a deep understanding of number. We have embedded the Mastering Number and Number Sense programmes to develop children's confidence, automaticity and conceptual understanding of mathematics.

In Early Years, children build mathematical understanding through practical exploration, discussion and purposeful play. In Key Stage 1, Mastering Number develops secure number sense and fluency, while in Key Stage 2 pupils continue to strengthen their recall of key facts, multiplication fluency and confidence with number through carefully sequenced practice and retrieval. This ensures that children have the foundations needed to reason, problem solve and succeed in mathematics.

Prioritising Disadvantaged Pupils

At Burhill, inclusion is at the heart of our vision. Through our Pupil Premium First approach, we work hard to ensure that disadvantage is never a barrier to achievement, opportunity or belonging. Leaders carefully identify pupils' needs and provide timely support through targeted interventions in reading, phonics, language development and mathematics. Programmes such as Little Wandle, Reading Fluency, NELI, WellComm and Mastering Number help pupils secure the essential knowledge and skills needed to access learning successfully.

We know that strong foundations are built through strong partnerships. We place great importance on developing positive relationships with families, working closely with parents to support children's learning, attendance, wellbeing and personal development. Through regular communication, workshops, meetings and personalised support, we ensure that parents are valued partners in their child's educational journey.

Ready for Success

Our strong foundations approach combines high-quality teaching, evidence-informed practice and a culture of belonging. Through The Burhill Way, our commitment to oracy, Little Wandle Phonics, Reading Fluency, handwriting, Mastering Number and Number Sense, we ensure that every child develops the knowledge, confidence and independence needed to flourish now and in the future.