Writing
Intent
At Fairways, we strive to help our children develop into articulate and imaginative communicators, who are well-equipped with the basic skills they need to become life-long learners. We aim to ensure all of our children develop a genuine love of language and the written word, through a text-based approach, using the chosen text in writing lessons.
Careful inks are made across the curriculum to ensure that children’s English learning is relevant and meaningful; where possible linking our reading, writing and the theme we are covering in our foundation subjects. We ensure that children develop an understanding of how widely writing is used in everyday life and, therefore, how important and useful the skills are that they are learning.
Our intentions in writing for children are to;
- Write for a purpose
- See themselves as real writers
- Take ownership of their writing
- See writing as an interesting and enjoyable process
- Acquire the ability to organise and plan their writing.
Implementation
Our curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability or additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be.
We teach the National Curriculum, supported by clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.
We aim to develop children’s ability to produce well-structured, detailed writing in which the meaning is made clear and which engages the interest of the reader. The formal structures of English (grammatical detail, punctuation and spelling) are taught throughout the school. Children have opportunities to write at length in extended, independent writing sessions, applying their taught skills to an unsupported piece of writing.
As well as reading a wide variety of genres, children are given frequent opportunities to develop their skills in writing in different genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Applying a different focus fortnightly, each class celebrates a Remarkable Writer and their written piece of work is displayed in the school corridor for all to see. The children, therefore, write for a purpose and feel seen as real writers.
Pupils are taught discrete punctuation and grammar skills, appropriate to their year group, closely linked with our text-based approach, allowing opportunities to identify, practice and consolidate grammatical understanding, whilst also being immersed in a text. Children then apply the grammar and punctuation skills that they have learnt in their extended pieces of writing.
Spelling - At Fairways, spelling is taught regularly in focussed sessions within each class. This extends from high frequency words to spelling rules and the required National Curriculum spellings applicable for each year group. Children are encouraged to apply the taught spelling knowledge in their writing.
Impact
By the time children leave Fairways they will:
- Make good progress from their KS1 results
- Have a love for writing and write for enjoyment
- Be able to produce written work in all areas of the curriculum to a high standard
- Be confident to write for a range of different purposes
- Be prepared for the more in-depth approach to writing in secondary education.