English
Discover how CPS nurtures confident and caring communicators who express their ideas clearly in both spoken and written English. Through enriching and meaningful learning experiences, students strengthen their creativity, critical thinking and Adaptive Thinking, enabling them to respond thoughtfully to different contexts and challenges.
Curriculum Approach
Cantonment Primary School’s English Department is committed to nurturing confident communicators who can express their ideas clearly in both speech and writing, while fostering a lifelong love for the English language.
Anchored in MOE’s STELLAR 2.0 (Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading), our programme is built on the belief that children learn language best in meaningful contexts—through stories, conversations, and authentic experiences rather than drills or rote memorisation. Lessons are purposeful and engaging, helping students see language as a powerful tool for communication and connection.
In the lower primary years, students develop language skills through shared reading and guided learning experiences. As they progress to the upper primary years, they become increasingly independent readers and writers, supported by structured strategies that build confidence and competence.
Oracy is a key focus throughout the curriculum. Students are given regular opportunities to speak, listen, ask questions, and participate in meaningful discussions, developing the communication skills they need both in and beyond the classroom. They also engage with a wide range of print, digital, and multimodal texts, preparing them to communicate confidently in an ever-evolving world.
Our curriculum is designed to meet the diverse needs of every learner. Teachers differentiate instruction to provide appropriate support and challenge, enabling all students to grow according to their abilities.
Beyond the classroom, students participate in enriching learning experiences that develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. Through these experiences, they deepen their knowledge and skills, becoming curious, independent learners who take ownership of their learning and embrace lifelong learning.
Curriculum Highlights
English Language Oracy Programme
Oracy is recognised as a fundamental pillar of early childhood development. By engaging in oracy within the social context of the classroom, students actively participate in the development of their understanding, while making knowledge and skills their own — building a strong sense of belonging as they learn alongside and through one another.
Oracy encompasses the intricate ways in which language, interpersonal, and thinking skills intersect and influence one another in the school environment, fostering adaptive thinking as students navigate diverse communicative contexts and learn to respond thoughtfully to different perspectives. It highlights the essential role of listening and speaking in children's learning. The ability to listen attentively, speak clearly, communicate fluently, and engage in meaningful two-way interactions is considered a crucial component of children's academic development and their success in mastering the English language.
This is a 5-year Oracy Programme which provides a platform for students to:
Appreciate the English Language through creative ways
Express themselves creatively through the English Language
Appreciate good quality works of literature.
Work with peers to create works of literature
5-year Oracy Programme
Level | Objectives | Oracy Programme focus |
Primary 1 |
| Dramatic reading |
Primary 2 |
| Let’s talk |
Primary 3 |
| Gen-I-US |
Primary 4 |
| Speak Write |
Primary 5 |
With the 3Cs, students will have more balanced opinions as they are trained to see both sides of every issue | Debating |
Character Alive Day
At Cantonment Primary School, we place a strong emphasis on celebrating reading. We aim to make reading an enjoyable experience for our students. Our Reading Week celebrated this experience where we bring characters to life, fostering a strong sense of belonging as students come together to share in the joy and wonder of stories. This event sparks students' curiosity about the fascinating characters within stories or theme. We encourage all students to explore the excitement of different literary genres, stepping into the shoes of their favourite characters and bringing stories to life. As part of the celebration, students have the opportunity to dress up as their favorite storybook characters and enjoy a fun-filled day of activities.
Left: "Wingardium Leviosa! Hogwarts students have arrived at Cantonment Primary — with a special guest appearance by Thor! #characterscomealive" Right: "Minnie Mouse meets a Minion at Cantonment Primary School's Character Day! These three brought their favourite storybook and screen characters to life in the most delightful way. #characterscomealive"
Our Time To Enjoy Reading (OTTER) Programme
At Cantonment Primary School, we are committed to fostering a love of reading among our students. This programme offers students the opportunity to explore books across various genres, cultivating self-directedness as they follow their curiosity and take ownership of their reading journey. During library periods and at the Reading Nook during recess, book sharing and read-aloud sessions introduce students to a diverse range of titles that ignite their curiosity and encourage them to explore different texts. In addition to enhancing literacy skills, this initiative also provides students with a deeper understanding of the world and the diverse cultures that surround them, nurturing adaptive thinking as they encounter new perspectives and broaden the way they see and make sense of the world.
Nurturing a love for reading, one story at a time.
Reading Circles
Reading Circles is a school-based enrichment programme for Primary 4 and 5 students who demonstrate a strong interest and aptitude for the English language. It is designed for advanced readers who are ready to engage with texts more widely, deeply, and critically.
At the heart of Reading Circles is the belief that reading is more than a skill — it is a way of experiencing and understanding the world. Through guided group discussions, students are encouraged to respond personally and thoughtfully to a range of rich fiction and non-fiction texts, making authentic connections between what they read and the world around them. This process nurtures imagination, perspective-taking, and empathy.
Each Reading Circle is built around a carefully selected fiction text, organised into a module. Modules vary in pitch and difficulty to cater to students with different levels of verbal ability, ensuring that each reader is appropriately challenged and supported.
Reading Circles are facilitated by teachers who have been specially trained in inquiry-based approaches to reading. Rather than directing students towards fixed answers, teachers guide open-ended discussions that encourage students to think, question, and explore ideas together.
Through this programme, we hope to nurture in our students a lifelong love of reading and the capacity to engage thoughtfully with the texts — and the world — they encounter.
Big ideas, bright minds! Reading Circles students proudly present their work as they grow their language skills and creative thinking together.
Technology in Learning: Digital Literacy and English Language Learning
In today's digital world, being literate means more than reading and writing, it also means being able to navigate online information, communicate responsibly and create digital content meaningfully. Through our English Language Curriculum (STELLAR 2.0), students learn to read, write, speak and represent their ideas across a wide range of texts, including digital ones. Complementing this, our Digital Literacy and Technological Skills (DLTS) modules on the Student Learning Space (SLS) equip students with the skills to use digital tools effectively, evaluate online information critically and communicate responsibly in digital spaces.
These two programmes work hand in hand to develop students who are confident communicators, critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens. As students progress through primary school, they build on these skills progressively, from learning basic device operations in the early years to understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and online responsibility in the upper primary years. Together, STELLAR 2.0 and the DLTS modules prepare our students to use English meaningfully and navigate the digital world with confidence and integrity.
Digital literacy meets English Language learning. Our DLTS modules empower students to read, write and thrive in the digital world, one click at a time.
Partnering Parents
To ensure that our students not only enjoy learning the English language but also become confident communicators, we greatly value the support of our parents.
Parents can play a key role in helping their child develop proficiency by providing access to English-language reading materials at home. By demonstrating that learning English is both enjoyable and practical in everyday life, parents can create opportunities for their child to listen, speak, read, and write in English.
Useful links
English Language Syllabus
National Library Board (NLB)
https://childrenandteens.nlb.gov.sg.
Access NLB catalogue and a list of eResources for primary school studentshttps://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/site/discovereads/children/reading-recommendations/booklists.
Book recommendations for Primary 1 to 6 are available
Games and activities - LearnEnglish Kids
LearnEnglish Kids has lots of free online games, songs, stories and activities for children to have fun while learning English.
Vocabulary - Learning Chocolate
https://www.learningchocolate.com/
This is an interactive website to help with learning English vocabulary which is very helpful for beginners.
Learning Platform – Starfall
https://www.starfall.com/
This is good for elementary or beginning language students. It has many reading activities that students can read and follow along while the story is being read to them.
Reading – TumbleBooks
https://www.tumblebooklibrary.com
TumbleBooks is a good resource for parents to use with the child. It has lots of reading materials and learning resources that parent and child can use together. Young children will love reading the electronic picture books which come with animation, sound, music and narration.
Reading - Epic books
https://www.getepic.com/
Inspiring the next generation to develop a love of reading and learning. The ‘epic!’ reading experience designed just for kids is an award-winning subscription service, which gives millions of families and classrooms instant, unlimited access to thousands of books, videos and quizzes from leading publishers to help kids everywhere read, learn and grow.