Writing

English Curriculum 

Intent

At St Mary’s C of E School, we aim to inspire our children to become confident, capable, and independent writers who understand the purpose and power of writing while finding joy in the process. We believe writing is a vital life skill, and we strive to ensure that our pupils can apply their skills across the curriculum and in a range of meaningful contexts.

Guided by the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum, we have developed a carefully sequenced, progressive programme that builds upon prior knowledge and supports the individual needs of each child. To enrich our writing curriculum, we draw upon a wealth of high-quality literature, ensuring children learn to write as readers and read as writers. This deepens their understanding of text construction and helps them express themselves effectively for various purposes and audiences.

We want our children to experience the thrill of writing through engaging and imaginative “hook” lessons that introduce new texts in exciting ways, sparking ‘awe and wonder’ and leaving them bursting with ideas. These lessons bring stories and genres to life, igniting creativity and a passion for writing.

Our intent also includes ensuring children develop robust spelling skills by applying spelling patterns and rules effectively. Starting in reception children are introduced to Read, Write Inc which is streamed by ability across the school until children build their phonic knowledge and progress to learning spelling rules through Spelling Shed. https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/

We believe all children should take pride in presenting their work. Through the consistent teaching of handwriting, following the Letterjoin Scheme, and fine motor interventions where needed, we aim for children to develop a neat, joined handwriting style.

Implementation

Writing is taught daily at St Mary’s, with lessons designed to build progressively on grammar, punctuation, and spelling skills. In our single-form entry school, each child receives personalised support, ensuring all children’s needs are met. In the Foundation Stage, children also engage with numerous writing opportunities within their continuous provision activities and challenges, laying a strong foundation for their future writing journey.

Each writing unit begins with an imaginative and exciting hook lesson to introduce a new high-quality text or genre. These lessons immerse children in the story or concept, fostering curiosity and enthusiasm. Carefully chosen model texts, provide a strong foundation for children to understand the writing process and develop their skills.

At the start of each school year, we place a strong emphasis on teaching the “Place Value of Grammar and Punctuation.” This foundational approach ensures children develop a clear understanding of the components of sentence structure, enabling them to construct grammatically accurate and effective sentences. By focusing on these building blocks early in the year, we provide a framework that enhances children’s confidence and proficiency in writing across all genres and purposes. This proven method supports children in mastering sentence structure and applying their learning consistently throughout the curriculum.

To ensure coverage and progression, we follow a long-term plan that sets out a variety of text types and genres, allowing children to write for different purposes and audiences. Each lesson revisits and builds upon prior learning to reinforce knowledge and skills. Teachers provide high-quality feedback through verbal comments and individual guidance during lessons. This feedback enables children to edit and improve their work using purple pens or pencils, fostering a culture of reflection and growth.

Scaffolding and support are carefully planned for children who need it, and all adults in the classroom are equipped to tailor their support to individual learners. Our approach ensures that every child is challenged appropriately and supported to achieve their full potential.

Impact

We aim for all children to leave St Mary’s as enthusiastic, confident writers equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the next stage of their education. By fostering a love of writing and equipping children with strong technical skills, we prepare them to communicate effectively and creatively throughout their lives.

The impact of our writing curriculum is assessed through:

· Regular monitoring by the subject lead to ensure National Curriculum requirements are met and progression is evident across year groups.

· Book scrutinies and professional dialogue between teachers to evaluate the quality of learning and identify areas for development.

· Phase and cluster moderation to ensure consistency in assessment, particularly during the summer term.

· Lesson observations and individual feedback to support high-quality teaching and learning.

· Sharing good practice among staff to maintain a cohesive and effective approach to writing.

· Monitoring of feedback to ensure pupils’ next steps are clear and purposeful.

· Baseline and end-of-year spelling assessments to track progress in this area.

· Regular updates to assessment folders following independent writing tasks.

· Tracking pupils’ progress year-to-year to ensure they remain ‘on track’ or receive timely intervention if needed.

· Pupil Progress Review meetings to discuss the needs of children not on track and plan interventions to support them.

At St Mary’s, we are proud of our writing curriculum, which not only develops technical proficiency but also nurtures creativity and a love of the written word.