Writing

We believe that if children can’t speak a sentence, they cannot write a sentence. Speaking and listening forms a key aspect of writing and it is incorporated throughout the teaching sequences. We use a number of techniques to teach writing. These strategies involve making explicit the thinking involved in the writing process so that it can be internalised and ultimately applied by children in their writing.

Oracy

Oracy is a key aspect of our curriculum that is covered in all areas of the curriculum. In order to teach effective oracy skills across the curriculum, we use an oracy framework. This is designed to help teachers and pupils understand the physical, linguistic, cognitive and social/emotional skills that enable successful discussion, inspiring speech and effective communication. Key oracy skills are taught throughout the whole curriculum. Objectives are progressive and sequential; teaching the children the skills to confidently and effectively use the spoken language for educational progress, and for life in general. We have end of year expectations and sentence stems for each area to support oracy in every area of the curriculum.

Early Years and Year 1

Drawing Club

Pupils participate in a daily drawing club session.  Drawing Club is an initiative by Greg Bottrill to promote and engage young children in the joy of writing.  Drawing club focuses on a story, tale or animation and this cycle is repeated throughout the term.  It promotes the magic of story alongside the development of physical, creativity and vocabulary development.  Each week the pupils are introduced to new vocabulary in a contextual way.  They learn the new vocabulary through a multi-sensory approach with actions and definitions defined. Individuals are supported in drawing club to meeting their next steps in learning to challenge them to progress with their writing and conversational development.  During the week, the pupils will focus on the character, setting and adventure times within the sessions. 

Y2-6 English Lesson Sequence:  

Each phase has a two-year overview of the writing genres, both narrative and non-fiction, that they will teach. These have been planned to ensure correct coverage of the key genres as well as build on skills from year to year.  

Units will take between two, four or even six weeks to complete dependent on the age of the children, and the outcome of each unit will be an extended piece of writing. The pupils are exposed to the necessary skills and language needed to be a successful writer. This will then be used to assess the pupil’s skills against the agreed success criteria. Oracy is a key aspect of all lessons and children take part in a variety of activities to develop their skills.

Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and punctuation knowledge and skills are taught through English lessons. Teachers plan to teach the required skills through the genres of writing that they are teaching, linking it to the genre to make it more connected with the intended writing outcome. Teachers sometimes focus on particular grammar and punctuation skills as standalone lessons, if they feel that the class need additional lessons to embed and develop their understanding or to consolidate skills.