Writing

Writing

Intent

We want our children to write for purpose and write for pleasure. To encourage this all of our English teaching is planned and taught  using quality and engaging texts which link to the wider curriculum. We teach writing using a published scheme of work Pathways to Write which is built around units of work which develop vocabulary, reading and writing skills through the mastery approach, ensuring full curriculum coverage. Where needed lessons are adapted to the needs of individual or groups of children to ensure every child receives the curriculum they need. The units, are used with pupils in EYFS to Y6 and are linked to high-quality texts to ensure engaging and purposeful English lessons. Within each unit there are many writing opportunities including differentiated activities for those working at Greater Depth

Implementation

The Pathways Programme Each unit covers a range of areas in the national curriculum:

Mastery of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation skills                           

Writing a range of genres across a year             

Vocabulary development

Spoken language activities including drama and presentations

Opportunities for practising previously taught genres              

 An extended, independent piece of writing

This process follows three stages:

The Gateway

The Gateway is opened with a ‘hook’ session to intrigue and enthuse young writers objects, people, images or role-play is used to stimulate questions about the chosen text, pupils are given the opportunity to predict the text. We establish at this point the purpose and audience of the writing and revisit previous mastery skills

The Pathway

We introduce pupils to new writing skills from their year group curriculum these are called mastery keys and are displayed in the classroom and in the English books. Writing opportunities are provided to practise and apply the skill they have learnt through short and extended writing tasks including character descriptions, poetry, dialogue between characters, fact files or diary entries in role. Opportunities are provided to re-cap and apply previously taught skills. We challenge greater depth writers through a wider range of tasks e.g. changes to form, viewpoint and audience

The Writeaway

Pupils section and sequence texts independently or collaboratively. They create extended pieces of writing over time

Opportunity is given to apply mastery skills. Time is given for planning, writing, checking, editing, redrafting and publishing

A fiction or non-fiction outcome will be written (covering a wide range of genres and themes over the year)

Impact

Pupils will be equipped with a strong command of the written word they will amass a varied vocabulary which they can use across the curriculum and spelling accurately and use correct grammar in their work.   Pupils will write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.  By the end of Year 6 children are well-prepared for the secondary curriculum.

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