UK primary English curriculum: Years 1 to 6

Browse all 113 top-level statutory English requirements in the DfE programme for maintained schools in England. Nested statutory clauses are preserved beneath their parent requirement. Worksheet and teaching-unit links are shown only where a real, age-equivalent ChalkBee resource matches the learning objective.

Official wording and reference IDs

The DfE does not publish alphanumeric English codes. References such as uk-ks1-y1-en-rwr-01 are stable ChalkBee IDs, not official codes. Square-bracket examples are displayed separately because the DfE identifies them as non-statutory.

Sources: DfE HTML programme, official KS1 and KS2 PDF, spelling appendix and grammar and punctuation appendix. Crown copyright information is reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Worksheets + unit

16

top-level requirements

Worksheets only

62

top-level requirements

Unit only

1

top-level requirements

Resource gap

34

top-level requirements

Years 1-6

Key Stages 1 and 2 · 12 requirements

Spoken language

listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peersResource gap ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledgeResource gap use relevant strategies to build their vocabularyResource gap articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinionsResource gap give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelingsResource gap maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to commentsResource gap use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideasResource gap speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard EnglishResource gap participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play/improvisations and debatesResource gap gain, maintain and monitor the interest of the listener(s)Resource gap consider and evaluate different viewpoints, attending to and building on the contributions of othersResource gap select and use appropriate registers for effective communicationResource gap

Year 1

Key Stage 1 · 28 requirements

Reading - word reading

apply phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decode wordsWorksheets only respond speedily with the correct sound to graphemes (letters or groups of letters) for all 40+ phonemes, including, where applicable, alternative sounds for graphemesWorksheets only read accurately by blending sounds in unfamiliar words containing GPCs that have been taughtWorksheets only read common exception words, noting unusual correspondences between spelling and sound and where these occur in the wordWorksheets only read words containing taught GPCs and –s, –es, –ing, –ed, –er and –est endingsWorksheets only read other words of more than one syllable that contain taught GPCsWorksheets only read words with contractions, and understand that the apostrophe represents the omitted letter(s)Worksheets only read books aloud, accurately, that are consistent with their developing phonic knowledge and that do not require them to use other strategies to work out wordsWorksheets only reread these books to build up their fluency and confidence in word readingWorksheets only

Reading - comprehension

develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by:Worksheets only understand both the books they can already read accurately and fluently and those they listen to by:Worksheets only participate in discussion about what is read to them, taking turns and listening to what others sayWorksheets only explain clearly their understanding of what is read to themWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Spelling

spell:Worksheets only name the letters of the alphabet:Worksheets only add prefixes and suffixes:Worksheets only apply simple spelling rules and guidance, as listed in English appendix 1Worksheets only write from memory simple sentences dictated by the teacher that include words using the GPCs and common exception words taught so farWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Handwriting

sit correctly at a table, holding a pencil comfortably and correctlyWorksheets only begin to form lower-case letters in the correct direction, starting and finishing in the right placeWorksheets only form capital lettersWorksheets only form digits 0-9Worksheets only understand which letters belong to which handwriting ‘families’ (ie letters that are formed in similar ways) and to practise theseWorksheets only

Writing - composition

write sentences by:Resource gap discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupilsResource gap read their writing aloud, clearly enough to be heard by their peers and the teacherResource gap

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English appendix 2 by:Resource gap use the grammatical terminology in English English appendix 2 in discussing their writingResource gap

Year 2

Key Stage 1 · 26 requirements

Reading - word reading

continue to apply phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decode words until automatic decoding has become embedded and reading is fluentWorksheets + unit read accurately by blending the sounds in words that contain the graphemes taught so far, especially recognising alternative sounds for graphemesWorksheets + unit read accurately words of two or more syllables that contain the same graphemes as aboveWorksheets + unit read words containing common suffixesWorksheets + unit read further common exception words, noting unusual correspondences between spelling and sound and where these occur in the wordWorksheets + unit read most words quickly and accurately, without overt sounding and blending, when they have been frequently encounteredWorksheets + unit read aloud books closely matched to their improving phonic knowledge, sounding out unfamiliar words accurately, automatically and without undue hesitationWorksheets + unit reread these books to build up their fluency and confidence in word readingWorksheets + unit

Reading - comprehension

develop pleasure in reading, motivation to read, vocabulary and understanding by:Worksheets + unit understand both the books that they can already read accurately and fluently and those that they listen to by:Worksheets only participate in discussion about books, poems and other works that are read to them and those that they can read for themselves, taking turns and listening to what others sayWorksheets only explain and discuss their understanding of books, poems and other material, both those that they listen to and those that they read for themselvesWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Spelling

spell by:Worksheets only add suffixes to spell longer words including –ment, –ness, –ful, –less, –lyWorksheets only apply spelling rules and guidance, as listed in English appendix 1Worksheets only write from memory simple sentences dictated by the teacher that include words using the GPCs, common exception words and punctuation taught so farWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Handwriting

form lower-case letters of the correct size relative to one anotherWorksheets only start using some of the diagonal and horizontal strokes needed to join letters and understand which letters, when adjacent to one another, are best left unjoinedWorksheets only write capital letters and digits of the correct size, orientation and relationship to one another and to lower-case lettersWorksheets only use spacing between words that reflects the size of the lettersWorksheets only

Writing - composition

develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by:Resource gap consider what they are going to write before beginning by:Resource gap make simple additions, revisions and corrections to their own writing by:Resource gap read aloud what they have written with appropriate intonation to make the meaning clearResource gap

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English appendix 2 by:Worksheets only use and understand the grammatical terminology in English appendix 2 in discussing their writingResource gap

Years 3-4

Key Stage 2 · 22 requirements

Reading - word reading

apply their growing knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes (etymology and morphology) as listed in - see English appendix 1, both to read aloud and to understand the meaning of new words they meetWorksheets only read further exception words, noting the unusual correspondences between spelling and sound, and where these occur in the wordWorksheets only

Reading - comprehension

develop positive attitudes to reading, and an understanding of what they read, by:Worksheets + unit understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by:Worksheets + unit retrieve and record information from non-fictionWorksheets only participate in discussion about both books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, taking turns and listening to what others sayWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Spelling

use further prefixes and suffixes and understand how to add them - see English appendix 1Worksheets only spell further homophonesWorksheets only spell words that are often misspelt - see English appendix 1Worksheets only place the possessive apostrophe accurately in words with regular plurals and in words with irregular pluralsWorksheets only use the first 2 or 3 letters of a word to check its spelling in a dictionaryWorksheets only write from memory simple sentences, dictated by the teacher, that include words and punctuation taught so farWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Handwriting

use the diagonal and horizontal strokes that are needed to join letters and understand which letters, when adjacent to one another, are best left unjoinedWorksheets only increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their handwriting,Worksheets only

Writing - composition

plan their writing by:Resource gap draft and write by:Unit only evaluate and edit by:Resource gap proofread for spelling and punctuation errorsResource gap read their own writing aloud to a group or the whole class, using appropriate intonation and controlling the tone and volume so that the meaning is clearResource gap

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English appendix 2 by:Worksheets + unit indicate grammatical and other features by:Worksheets + unit use and understand the grammatical terminology in English appendix 2 accurately and appropriately when discussing their writing and readingResource gap

Years 5-6

Key Stage 2 · 25 requirements

Reading - word reading

apply their growing knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes (morphology and etymology), as listed in English appendix 1, both to read aloud and to understand the meaning of new words that they meetWorksheets only

Reading - comprehension

maintain positive attitudes to reading and an understanding of what they read by:Worksheets + unit understand what they read by:Worksheets + unit discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, considering the impact on the readerWorksheets only distinguish between statements of fact and opinionWorksheets only retrieve, record and present information from non-fictionWorksheets only participate in discussions about books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, building on their own and others’ ideas and challenging views courteouslyWorksheets only explain and discuss their understanding of what they have read, including through formal presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on the topic and using notes where necessaryWorksheets only provide reasoned justifications for their viewsWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Spelling

use further prefixes and suffixes and understand the guidance for adding themWorksheets only spell some words with ‘silent’ lettersWorksheets only continue to distinguish between homophones and other words which are often confusedWorksheets only use knowledge of morphology and etymology in spelling and understand that the spelling of some words needs to be learnt specifically, as listed in English appendix 1Worksheets only use dictionaries to check the spelling and meaning of wordsWorksheets only use the first 3 or 4 letters of a word to check spelling, meaning or both of these in a dictionaryWorksheets only use a thesaurusWorksheets only

Writing - transcription / Handwriting and presentation

write legibly, fluently and with increasing speed by:Resource gap

Writing - composition

plan their writing by:Resource gap draft and write by:Resource gap evaluate and edit by:Resource gap proofread for spelling and punctuation errorsResource gap perform their own compositions, using appropriate intonation, volume, and movement so that meaning is clearResource gap

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English appendix 2 by:Worksheets + unit indicate grammatical and other features by:Worksheets only use and understand the grammatical terminology in English appendix 2 accurately and appropriately in discussing their writing and readingResource gap