Intent

Writing is a life skill; our aim is to provide children with essential, transferable writing skills that they can apply with increasing independence. These will be embedded and built upon, preparing them for their next step and enabling them to flourish as articulate communicators.

At St Richard's, our reading leads to writing through the use of high-quality texts. We link our writing with our topics, current affairs or a theme of interest to the children.

Implementation

Writing is taught in our English lessons and is an important part of our day. Starting in Reception, children are exposed to high-quality texts which inspire their writing.

From Year 1 onwards, children will spend their lessons building upon previously taught skills, whilst also learning new skills. They will do this by studying a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) and using their success criteria, which enables them to talk about what they are doing well and what they need to improve on. Each classroom also has a working wall, where writing skills are modelled for children to refer to.

At the end of a unit (usually one or two weeks), they will produce a piece of independent writing called 'Star Write' to demonstrate their learning. Please have a look at our amazing Star Write display in our entrance! 

Each year group has a 'Word of the Week' which encourages children's use of rich and varied vocabulary. These words are displayed in each classroom and children are challenged to include them in their writing.  

Speaking and listening runs throughout our curriculum; children have ample opportunity to practise these skills. For example, they regularly read aloud their own work, the WAGOLL in their writing lessons and their class reader. We also hold poetry cafes to share authors' poems as well as our own. Children are able to use the tone, volume and intonation of their voice to perform aloud to small groups or the whole class. To further embed this vital life skill, staff model exemplary speaking and listening whenever they communicate with the children.

Purpose of study

English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.

Aims

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

•  read easily, fluently and with good understanding
•  develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
•  acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
•  appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
•  write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
•  use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
•  are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

Progression of Skills

Click on the links below to see what your child will be learning in writing.

Overviews

Please take a look at our Writing Overviews to see what we've been learning in our English lessons.

Creative Writing Week

This week, the whole school looked at the same picture book in their English lessons all about our wonderful planet. It was called 'Dear Earth' by Isabel Otter. The children were given the opportunity to write creatively and make lots of independent choices for their writing. Everyone produced incredible writing that was completely different from one year group to the next! The children were so proud of their work. Take a look at some photos below and some quotes from children in their English lessons. 

"This is the most fun I've had in English!" Ruben, Year 2.

"This is going to be so fun!" Cameron, Year 2.

"I really to keep writing." Evie, Year 3.

"I really enjoyed this lesson." Maisie, Year 3.

"That was so much fun!" Robert, Year 3.

"I've never written so much in an English lesson. I want to keep on writing!" Gabriella, Year 4.