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High-quality texts are used as a springboard for learning across the curriculum and this motivates pupils to learn. Children learn to be creative because of the wide range of interesting activities available. The activities are linked, where possible, to a book, which helps children to engage with their learning more effectively and extends their knowledge and understanding of the world. Camelot Primary School, London. Ofsted

(Pupils) show a real interest in books and are developing a love of reading across the school. Pupils told us, ‘We are a book school.’ Pupils read a wide range of high-quality books at school and home. The themes of the ‘creative curriculum’ link to books they are studying in English. For example, in Year 6 pupils learn about ‘love and conflict’ using Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ancient Greek myths. Barrow Hill Junior School, Westminster. Ofsted September 2019

The English curriculum is underpinned by a breadth of high-quality texts which both engage and extend pupils’ understanding. For example, Year 5 pupils develop their understanding of how male and female stereotypes are constructed through reading Neil Gaiman’s ‘The Sleeper and the Spindle’.Through the study of a breadth of texts, including picture books, pupils explore their emotional responses to characters, settings and themes with perception and understanding. The reading curriculum reinforces and strengthens pupils’ empathy for the experiences of others. Empathic writing, where pupils write in the form of a character from the text, is threaded throughout their study of texts. As a result, pupils enjoy reading and are able to articulate their ideas very well.Teachers use high-quality texts to support pupils’ writing skills very well. Pupils study how grammar and word choices shape the impact of a text on a reader. Pupils use their grammatical knowledge skilfully to improve their own writing. Pupils also extend their vocabulary extremely well through reading a breadth of texts and apply thoughtful language choices to their own writing. As a consequence, pupils make rapid progress in writing in all year groups. Talavera Junior School, Hampshire. Ofsted

The teaching of writing is enabling teachers to weave the teaching of spelling and grammar into the unit of learning. The impact of spelling and grammar activities can be seen in the way pupils are now using their newly acquired skills in subsequent pieces of work. Highgate Primary Academy, Rotherham. Ofsted

Teachers choose texts which challenge pupils of all abilities. Curriculum innovations are having an impact on outcomes for pupils, particularly in the progress they now make in writing. Teachers select books carefully in every class to help disadvantaged pupils improve their reading and comprehension skills. As a result, the teaching of writing is now matched more precisely to what pupils need to learn next. St Johns and St Clement’s C of E Primary School, London. Ofsted March 2018