English 

Writing

In addition to Whole Class Reading sessions, we have daily English lessons which are highly focussed on writing. We mainly use Literacy Shed+ for planning using high quality videos and books; other resources may occasionally be used. The texts and videos are well-matched to the age and group of children being taught and provide opportunities which develop rich language models, vocabulary and structures from which children can learn how writing works and the effect it can have on the reader.

We aim to incorporate grammar and punctuation teaching into our writing curriculum as much as possible: children can then see how this looks when it is being used in ‘real’ writing and be able to apply the skills to their own work. There will be occasions when we have stand alone grammar and punctuation lessons.

Spelling is taught using Spelling Shed lessons and linked work; this is supported by the children having access to the Spelling Shed website at home where children can do quizzes and play games related to the words learnt that week at school.

Handwriting is mainly taught in Year 3 and 4 using Nelson Handwriting.

Developing oracy skills is a key driver for us across the curriculum: we aim to develop children’s vocabulary and oracy skills during discussions and presentations. Children are introduced to vocabulary through the writing stimuli which they can use in their own writing.

In class, children have access to their own ‘writer’s toolkit’. In the toolkit children may have model texts; knowledge organisers for different genres of writing; vocabulary/word banks and success criteria for different genres of writing. Children use the skills taught in English across other areas of the curriculum and they have access to their toolkits to support them.

Children’s writing is formally assessed in school three times a year by teachers. Alongside this, children also participate in a ‘No More Marking’ piece of writing: children are given a picture and then write a story based upon it. As staff, we then assess our children’s writing alongside other schools. This gives us the opportunity to make a national comparison. We also participate in an online grammar assessment: using data from this supports children in their understanding of sentence structure.