provide learning activities in listening, talking, reading and writing within a context, so as to ensure balance, progression and coherence for the programme as a whole;

ensure a structured development of pupils' learning by means of a school-devised programme which may include commercially-produced materials;

provide a language environment which stimulates pupils' imaginations and their interest in and enjoyment of language in all its aspects, and on which teachers can capitalize in the planning and delivery of the programme;

ensure that pupils acquire knowledge about language, and apply that knowledge in their own talking and writing;

forge strong links with the language and culture that children bring to school, making full use of opportunities for language activities and development arising out of the child's experience of family, school, local community and the wider world;

develop pupils' ability, when talking and writing, to choose a style of language appropriate to purpose and audience;

ensure opportunities as appropriate for differentiation by text, task and level of support, to accommodate pupils' individual needs;

provide pupils with varied, interesting assignments in language that they can successfully undertake as homework

ensure that pupils encounter a range of teaching styles and classroom organisation which will permit individual, group and class learning;

give pupils increasing scope to become independent thinkers and learners, by providing regular opportunities for choice about the content, process and sequence of their learning;

give pupils, from the earliest years, a working knowledge of reference materials and their uses, so that they can pursue, with increasing independence, research and discovery learning;

integrate assessment with teaching in the light of an overall school policy, to permit both effective learning and the communication of the pupil's performance to the pupil, to parents and to colleagues.

Pupils will be willing to talk, listen, read and write when their minds have been caught and turned towards a worthwhile enterprise. Pupils should feel part of what is going on within and outwith the classroom. Motivation matters.