Topic catalogue
Explore the curriculum
Search 1,590 matching topics by subject, domain, and learner age.
Different Types of Texts
Reading Comprehension
Recognise common types of texts (storybooks, poems, non-fiction); name the author and illustrator and define the role of each in telling or presenting a text
Diphthongs and complex vowels
Phonics & Word Reading
Read and spell words containing diphthongs and complex vowel patterns (ow, ou, ew, ue, ie, aw, au) and words ending in -y as a vowel sound
Discussing and Questioning New Words
Vocabulary
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in texts; discuss word meanings and link new vocabulary to words already known
Discussing Texts as a Group
Reading Comprehension
Participate in discussions about what is read, taking turns and listening to others; explain understanding clearly; actively engage in group reading activities
Forming Capital Letters
Handwriting & Transcription
Form capital letters correctly; print many upper- and lowercase letters legibly
Grammar words: letter, word, sentence
Grammar & Punctuation
Use basic grammatical terminology when discussing reading and writing: letter, capital letter, word, singular, plural, sentence, punctuation, full stop, question mark, exclamation mark
Joining Words with 'And'
Grammar & Punctuation
Join words and clauses using the conjunction 'and' to create longer sentences
Letter Formation Families
Handwriting & Transcription
Understand which letters belong to which handwriting families based on similar formation patterns and practise letters in groups
Listening to Texts Read Aloud
Reading Comprehension
Listen to and discuss poems, stories, and non-fiction at a level beyond independent reading; confirm understanding of texts read aloud by asking and answering questions about key details
Main Topic of Informational Texts
Reading Comprehension
Identify the main topic and retell key details of informational texts; describe connections between individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information
Pictures and Text Working Together
Reading Comprehension
Describe the relationship between illustrations and the text in which they appear; use pictures to support and extend comprehension
Prepositions
Grammar & Punctuation
Understand and use the most frequently occurring prepositions of location and direction (e.g. to, from, in, out, on, off, for, by, with)
Question Words
Grammar & Punctuation
Understand and use question words (who, what, where, when, why, how) to form and answer questions
R-Controlled Vowel Sounds
Phonics & Word Reading
Read and spell words containing r-controlled vowels (ar, er, ir, ur, or, ore) and vowel-r patterns where 'r' modifies the vowel sound
Reading between the lines
Reading Comprehension
Ask and answer questions about key details in literary and informational texts; make simple inferences based on what characters say and do
Reading Contractions
Phonics & Word Reading
Read and understand contractions with apostrophes, knowing the apostrophe represents omitted letters
Reading fluently
Phonics & Word Reading
Read aloud books matched to phonic ability accurately and with growing fluency; reread familiar texts to build confidence, speed, and expression
Reading for Meaning
English Thinking
Understand that reading is about making meaning, not just saying words correctly — a text that can be decoded but not understood has not been read
Reading High-Frequency Words by Sight
Phonics & Word Reading
Read common high-frequency and exception words automatically by sight, including words with irregular spelling patterns
Reading Inflectional Endings
Phonics & Word Reading
Read words containing taught GPCs with common inflectional endings (-s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er, -est) and the prefix un-; read multi-syllable words with taught patterns
Regular Plural Nouns
Grammar & Punctuation
Form and use regular plural nouns orally and in writing by adding -s or -es; understand that plural means more than one
Responding to Writing Feedback
Writing Composition
With teacher guidance, re-read own writing aloud to check it sounds right; listen and respond to questions and suggestions from teacher or peers to add detail, clarify meaning, and strengthen writing — this is the scaffolded beginning of writing self-evaluation, not an independent skill
Saying Sentences Before Writing Them
Writing Composition
Say out loud what is going to be written; compose sentences orally before writing them down as preparation for independent writing
Self-Correcting While Reading
Reading Comprehension
Check that text makes sense while reading and self-correct inaccurate reading by re-reading or using context