Literacy Classes

LEARN

Teaching English-speaking children how to read and write in English

PLP provides weekly 90 minute classes that enable English-speaking children aged 4- 10 to develop their skills and confidence reading and writing in English.

We cater for the needs of children who understand and speak English fluently, but are enrolled in a French or Swiss school and do not have the opportunity to learn English literacy skills.

Frequently, our programme provides the basis for them to join the ENP in France when they reach the age of 8. Children who attend Swiss schools often choose to continue with us until they start secondary school.

Almost ready to read?

We also offer an early literacy skills class for children aged 3-4. Find out more here!

JOIN

Is PLP the right place for my child to learn to read and write in English?

Can your child understand and speak English confidently?

Do you speak English regularly at home?
Does one of the child’s parents/ carers speak English regularly with the child?
Is English the ‘family language’?
Have you recently moved to Geneva from an Anglophone country?

Yes!

If you answer Yes to most questions – PLP is the right place for your child to acquire literacy skills to accompany their knowledge of English.

Have a look below and choose the right level for your children before enrolling!

ENROL

No

If you answer No to most questions – PLP is probably not best suited to your child’s needs; we do not teach English as a second language.

If you are looking for holistic English classes for your children that will build their oral skills and comprehension as well as their literacy skills, we recommend you try one of the following organisations.

LINKS

I'm not sure!

If you are unsure if PLP is right for you, please contact us for advice.

We want to make sure that you choose the right learning environment for your child’s needs.

Advantages of learning with PLP

• 120 minute classes weekly • Small classes (average of 12 students per class)

• One teacher and one assistant per class (depending on the size of the class)

• All materials are provided (the famous PLP 'red bag' is home to a selection of workbooks, worksheets, readers) for a small fee

• Weekly emails keep parents up-to-date and provide advice on how to support their child at home

Our Literacy Classes

Internationally-recognised (and fun) approach to teaching literacy to children

The PLP curriculum follows those in International Schools using Jolly Phonics to teach children in a fun and accessible way.

PLP is a partnership between parents and teachers. Learning continues at home with weekly homework exercises to help reinforce your child's new literacy skills.

Once you have determined that PLP is the right place for your child, please see below to help you select the appropriate level for them to join. If you need advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Level Descriptions

Find out what children learn at each level at PLP

Pre-Literacy

Children in 1P (Swizerland) or Moyenne Section (France)

We use the Jolly Phonics programme to teach children the phonic sound for each letter. This involves songs, games and fun activities to re-enforce learning and make it fun! Children will begin to identify the initial and end sounds in words and will begin utilising their knowledge to read CVC (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant) words.

Literacy 1

Children in 2P (Switzerland) or Grande Section (France)

Children continue to work within the Jolly Phonics programme, extending their understanding to blending phonic sounds and clusters. Children will learn to write CVC words and eventually read and write simple sentences.

Literacy 2

Children in 3P (Switzerland) or CP (France)

Children consolidate their phonic knowledge by reading and writing the most common phonemes, phonic sounds and spelling patterns. Children are introduced to simple grammar (verbs, nouns, adjectives etc.) and utilise their learning by writing simple sentences. Children are also introduced to character, plot and setting.

Literacy 3

Only for children who have completed Literacy 2

By Literacy 3, children should be confidently using the Phonic system to decode, read and write and will move on to thematic units of work. Children will be developing grammar and language skills and will begin to use them within different writing genres: poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing as well as beginning to develop their speaking and listening skills to inform their writing (Talk for writing).

Literacy 4

For children who have completed Literacy 3

Children will continue to develop and deepen their knowledge and understanding of sentence structure and grammar and employ these within different thematic units, based both in creative, fiction and non-fiction writing. There is an emphasis on skill-building which includes planning, drafting, writing and editing. Children are introduced to writing in paragraphs at this level too. Children are also encouraged to regularly use dictionaries and thesauruses. Children also begin to use inference and deduction when reading.

Literacy 5-6-7

For children who have completed Literacy 4

Within Literacy 5/6/7, children further develop their knowledge, understanding and use of a wide range of genres for reading and writing. Grammar work is built in to the thematic units of work. The children are given plenty of opportunity for debate, discussion and group tasks, whilst employing and developing skills learned in the previous Literacy levels. Phonics are still used within the context of developing knowledge of spelling. Children are encouraged to adapt their writing for a specific purpose and audience as well as experiment with language selection, understanding text organisation and use a range of narrative techniques. Children are encouraged to support their reasoning with evidence when reading and analysing texts.