Writing
Intent
At Ivy Bank Primary School, we recognise that English skills underpin all curriculum elements and are essential life skills. Considering the fundamental importance of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in everyday life, we are dedicated to enabling our children to become successful, accomplished writers.
We aim to foster an enjoyment of writing amongst our children, and a recognition of its value, through the provision of a sequenced, ambitious curriculum. We place the development of writing, directly linked to reading, at the very heart of the curriculum, and provide meaningful contexts and quality texts as the inspiration for writing. We want children to acquire a wide vocabulary, a secure understanding of grammar, and be able to spell new words by effectively applying the spelling patterns and rules they learn. We want children to have an understanding that writing has a real purpose and that word choice and style can bring about change.
Our Writing Curriculum
Our writing curriculum is developed around a sequence of high-quality age-appropriate texts, using Literacy Count’s Read-to-Write units as the basis of our English planning for key stage one and key stage two.
It incorporates reading, writing, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation skills. The writing curriculum is taught by allowing the children to become immersed in a high-quality text and the writing opportunities are derived from this.
This scheme is split into sequential episodes of learning, covering four main teaching elements: immersion, analysis, planning and writing.
Our writing is further enhanced through opportunities to write through memorable experiences, a 'hook' or topics of current interest.
In the Early Years our aim for writing is to develop pupil’s physical skill and enthusiasm for communicating in written word. Our writing programme EY2P links all literacy to a text which ensures children are having daily access to high quality texts and spend time unpicking key features and skills for reading. Through a range of approaches including story maps, hot seating and ‘talk for writing’ children are able to develop skills vital for comprehension. Writing opportunities are made available throughout the learning environment through continuous and enhanced provision.
Writing Examples
See some of our children's writing across Nursery to Year Six.
Nursery
Reception
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Year Four
Year Five
Year Six
‘Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.’
Stephen King
‘Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.’
Willa Cather
‘Writing floats on a sea of talk.’
Mary Myatt