Writing

Impact

At St Gregory’s School, writing is a crucial part of our curriculum. By the end of year 6, we intend our children to have developed a love of writing and to be able to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively through the written word. We also intend to create writers who can re-read, edit and improve their own writing. We want our pupils to be able to confidently use the essential skills of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

At St Gregory’s School, we set high expectations for all our children to take pride in their work and have a fluent, cursive handwriting alongside an attention to detail in presentation.

We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in English, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in English skills is crucial to a high-quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.

Implementation

These aims are embedded across our English lessons and the wider curriculum. We have a rigorous and well organised writing curriculum and framework that provides many purposeful opportunities for writing. We use a range of ways to motivate and inspire writing, such as, picture books, novels, poetry and video clips.  Varying our curriculum in this way help us develop confident and enthusiastic writers. Writing tasks are specific and meaningful and often meet a purpose to engage children and to illustrate how their writing skills can be applied in real life contexts.  Teachers also ensure that cross curricular links in writing are woven into the programme of study.

Children learn spellings or spelling patterns each week and these are tested in school. Children who need additional support with spelling receive a variety of interventions that are tailored to address their gaps.

Teachers plan and teach English lessons which are differentiated to the particular needs of each child.  We help each child maximise their potential by providing help and support where necessary whilst striving to make children independent workers once we have helped to equip them with the confidence, tools and strategies that they need.

Marking is rigorous in English and across the curriculum, we use a set marking ‘code’ which the children know and understand.  We encourage our children to be amazing Author Writers by learning how to edit and refine their work every day.   Regular English book scrutinies and learning walks are carried out to check all teachers are following our English policy rigorously.

We love to celebrate success of all learners and strive to help all children achieve their goals. Our displays celebrate children’s writing. In addition, throughout the school year our English curriculum is enhanced through World Book Day, drama workshops, author visits, whole book weeks and a range of trips which enrich and complement children’s learning.

Impact
 

The impact on our children is clear: progress, sustained learning and transferrable skills.  With the implementation of Drawing Club in the Reception year, we develop a love of writing from a very young age, this travels with the children as they enter the world of the ‘Curious Quests’ in Year 1 and 2.  Immersion in this form of creative writing lays the foundations for the more advance writing which takes place in KS2, following The Write Stuff scheme of work. Teaching focuses on creativity, whilst honing the writers craft, using grammatical constructs and developing a flair for writing. 

Every 6 weeks, writing is assessed against our school writing criteria.  This ensures careful tracking to make sure children are achieving at age related expectation.  Each year we have children achieving greater depth in writing at the end of KS1 and are working hard to emulate that at the end of KS2.

As all aspects of English are an integral part of the curriculum, cross curricular writing is woven into our Curious City curriculum which allows children to transfer their skills and consolidate their learning.  Ultimately this results in a deeper understanding of how and when to use specific grammar, punctuation and grammar objectives. 

We hope that as children move on from St Gregory’s to further their education and learning, that their creativity, passion for English and high aspirations travel with them and continue to grow and develop as they do.

Communication, Language and Literacy in the EYFS

Speaking and listening runs throughout the whole of the EYFS. There are stories, rhymes and role-play every day where the children have the opportunity to talk, listen and join in. We encourage the children to take their first steps in early reading and writing through role-play, free choice activities and focused teaching sessions.   Our Hedgehog class have a library session each week, where the children are invited to choose a library book to take home. They also bring home early reading books, letters, sounds and words to practise and learn. Physical development is particularly important in the EYFS as children develop the use of their gross and fine motor skills through initiatives such as dough disco and play with malleable materials. This eventually leads to children being able to handle writing equipment effectively –an essential step in learning to write.

Statutory Assessments

In addition to these in-school assessments there are statutory assessment that take place. In Year 1, children take part in the Phonics screening in the summer term. Children who did not pass the test in Y1 retake the test at the same time of year in Y2. In Year 2 and Year 6 the children take a formal reading and SPaG assessment as part of SATs.