English Writing
Intent
At South Molton Community Primary School it is our intent to provide high quality learning experiences in order to develop pupils’ competence in both transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing). We aim to teach pupils how to plan, revise and evaluate their writing effectively. We aim to enable pupils to write down their ideas fluently, spelling words quickly and accurately by knowing the relationship between sounds and letters in words. We intend to develop pupils’ composition skills so that they can form, articulate and communicate ideas, and then organise them coherently for a reader, showing an awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. We aim to encourage pupils to develop fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting.
Implementation
At South Molton Community Primary School we use the Power of Reading as a basis for our writing curriculum. The resource bank available is vast and reflects the ever-changing literary landscape. High quality texts are chosen, which engage the pupils and also link to our wider curriculum. Children are exposed to heritage texts as well as contemporary authors. These books are at the core of our English planning and teachers then plan stimulating lessons, using and adapting the Power of Reading’s teaching sequences, weaving in appropriate grammar skills. Speaking and listening skills support children in articulating their ideas. Children have opportunities to reflect on and improve writing through editing with continuous self, peer and teacher assessment providing clear next steps for learning. Phonics and spelling skills are developed using the Little Wandle programme for EYFS and KS1 and the Spelling Shed Programme for KS2 which is in line with the requirements of the English National Curriculum 2014. Children are taught to use a neat and consistent style of handwriting, and presentation. Punctuation and the Grammar is taught in accordance with the statutory requirements of the English National Curriculum.
Impact
Pupils will make at least good progress from their starting points. They will be equipped with a strong command of the written word and acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for writing. Pupils will write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.