Team Leader: Stephen Crawford
Brief information
The Communication, Language and Literacy Team are committed to enhancing learners' communication skills, language development, and literacy abilities through a comprehensive and personalised approach. We oversee the implementation and impact of several key policies, including English, Reading, Writing, Total Communication, and Reading at Home. Additionally, we coordinate special events such as World Book Day, which inspire a love for books and storytelling. Our team collaborates closely with teachers, families, and specialists to create an inclusive and supportive environment where every learner can thrive. By integrating innovative teaching strategies and evidence-based practices, we strive to cultivate a love for language and literacy that will empower our learners throughout their educational journey and beyond.
Monster Phonics
At Cann Bridge School, we have chosen Monster Phonics as our primary Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) program. Monster Phonics is a fun and engaging program that teaches children to read using a systematic approach, utilising colours to simplify some of the reading challenges in the English language. The program is based on the latest research in literacy teaching and learning and is designed to help children develop their phonemic awareness, phonics skills, and reading fluency through a multisensory approach.
Our learners have different starting points, needs, interests, and learning styles. We understand that some learners may spend more time on certain areas of learning than their peers. To support this, we are proud to also utilise Twinkl Phonics as an additional SSP, along with carefully selected and sequenced books from other schemes. We have ensured these schemes and reading books complement Monster Phonics and follow the same progression. For those not
ready to access Monster Phonics, our learners focus on developing the core skills and foundations, and when ready they access Monster Phonics.
Reading is a fundamental skill essential for success in life and a key developmental step toward independence. Our goal is for learners to develop a strong foundation in reading, and we are confident that Monster Phonics is the best program to help them achieve this. By using Monster Phonics along with our additional matched resources, our learners develop a love for reading and are equipped with the skills they need to become confident and competent readers.”