How to review your English/literacy policy

Key points to look out for

Below we suggest what might be included in an English policy but, since it’s not statutory, policies can vary.

It’s not meant as a guide for writing a policy, since that’s your school leaders’ job, but use it to give you a sense of what you’re looking for when reviewing it.

Vision and guiding principles

This is where your school leaders set out what they want pupils to achieve before they leave your school. This might include:

• Having a positive attitude towards reading and enjoying reading for pleasure
• Being able to write clearly and accurately, and adapting language and writing styles for different purposes
• Having an understanding of grammar and linguistic conventions

Your policy might also include some guiding principles to help achieve these aims, such as identifying learning gaps or exposing pupils to different types of reading materials.

Roles and responsibilities

The headteacher: providing