‘You can’t really use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.’

 Maya Angelou

Intent

The aim of our writing curriculum is to-

  • Equip our children with the skills to become confident, competent and creative writers who are able to use writing as a means of expression and communication.
  • Ensure that pupils have an opportunity to acquire a wide-ranging vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar and develop a knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and the spoken language.
  • Ensure that children write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.

RESPECT

Children show respect for others through the form and purpose of their writing and consideration of their audience.

RESILIENCE

Children are encouraged to write to a high standard. They evaluate, refine, edit and proof read to achieve their best.

INDEPENDENCE

Children have the opportunity to write for real audiences and purposes and develop their skills in creative, informative and entertaining styles, publishing their work for intended audiences.

RESPONSIBILITY

Children take responsibility for the discussion of ideas and take ownership and pride for the content and presentation of their own writing to produce their best.

FRIENDSHIP

Children learn about key moral themes and values through their writing and that of others, and demonstrate this through their support of each other in writing at School.

Implementation

  • We follow the National Curriculum and Early Years Development Matters.
  • To support children’s transcription skills, we teach a systematic programme of phonics (Little Wandle), including intervention for children not working at the expected standard.
  • We have placed writing at the centre of our curriculum and provide rich, real life contexts and experiences that enable the children to have a reason and a purpose to write. Through this, children are able to develop their own authentic personal voice, style, stamina and range as writers.
  • We use well-chosen, high-quality texts within lessons which provide rich language models and structures from which children can learn how writing works and the effect it can have on a reader.
  • With a rich diet of quality texts and enriching experiences children will be able to find their own reasons to write and develop a style that fits the purpose, audience and form.
  • We follow the Penpals handwriting scheme in which a cursive style is taught from Year 2. Year 1 concentrate on letter formation including capital letters and numbers.
  • For spelling in KS1, the Little Wandle scheme is followed. In KS2, we use the No Nonsense spelling programme.

Impact

  • Children will become independent and confident writers, able to write with accuracy and communicate ideas effectively for a purpose.
  • Children will develop a lifelong enjoyment of writing.
  • Children will have the skills so that they can access the next step of their education.