At Wragby Primary school we intend for our pupils to leave our setting, at Year 6 being independent, confident writers who have the skills to succeed at secondary school and beyond. 

The aim of this curriculum is to promote the highest standards of language and literacy by equipping children with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature. We aim to immerse the children in a vocabulary rich environment and surround them with a wide range of fiction and non-fiction texts.  Our aim is for children to be able to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.

Implementation 

Writing in the Early Years

In Reception and Year 1 the focus is on developing effective, automatic handwriting and transcription skills. We use the programme Letter-join, to develop the physical skills required for writing such as core strength, fine motor skills, correct pencil grip and seating position. Through daily, interactive activities children practise making patterns and shapes that then lead into correct letter formation. We teach children the letter formation in print in Reception and Year 1.  Pre-cursive patterns and shapes, leading to cursive writing are introduced through Letter-join in Year 2. 

 

During daily Sounds Write phonics sessions, children learn new letter sounds and the letters that spell them alongside the skills of blending and segmenting. They work through the Initial Code in Reception and begin the Extended Code (alternative spellings) in Year 1. Within each session the children have opportunities to practise writing words and captions relevant to the unit that they are working in. A writing table and other continuous provision promote a love of writing and allow the children the opportunities to apply their writing skills across all areas of learning. 

 

Writing across the school

Year groups 2-6 begin each autumn term with the Place Value of Punctuation and Grammar unit from Grammarsaurus. Once ready, Year 1 begin with their ‘Ready for PVPG unit’. This ensures that all children have a clear understanding of grammar, syntax and punctuation, appropriate for their year group. It gives all staff and children the consistent technical vocabulary required so that parts of a sentence can be discussed for the purposes of punctuation, editing and up levelling. 

In consultation with the Writing Lead, staff have planned writing units to cover a range of genres and text types. All staff are experienced in using a variety of approaches when delivering writing units. This allows the teaching to be creative and to respond to the needs of the children.

• Grammarsaurus. The Unit Guides build on the learning within the PVPG unit and allow children to apply and revisit their skills while developing a clear understanding of different text types.
• Talk for Writing. We also recognise the need to accelerate our children’s acquisition and understanding of a wide, rich vocabulary and to develop their familiarity with story language and text patterns. Talk for Writing allows children to internalise story language and the language structures needed to write through ‘talking the text’. The T4W approach is powerful because it is based on the principles of how people learn. The movement from imitation to innovation to independent application can be adapted to suit the needs of learners of any stage. 
• Read, Write, Perform! In Year 5 and Year 6, Read, Write, Perform is also used to encourage learners to actively engage with a variety of media. Read Write Perform encourages children to apply what they have learnt in a meaningful and purposeful way in order to embed their learning. It allows learners to make important links that are rooted within meaningful contexts, enabling them to use grammar, punctuation and vocabulary creatively in order to bring their own work to life.

The Long-Term Writing Plan shows the title, genre and text type being taught in each year group each term.   

Progression 

We use the Grammarsaurus ‘Whole School Overview for Grammar and Punctuation’ to ensure that there is progression and coverage of skills and content across school and that prior learning is revisited and built upon.  These cover all of the statements in the National Curriculum Statutory Guidance (2014). The whole school plan shows which genres are being taught when, in each year group. Children have the opportunities to revisit genres throughout their time at Wragby and also apply their skills across all areas of the wider curriculum.

 

Spelling 

To be updated once Active Spelling training has been delivered to all staff in November 2024

Tricky words are taught to our youngest children as part of their phonics sessions relevant to the unit that they are working in.  

From Year 1 our spelling is supported through activities on Spelling Shed. As well as lists that practise a particular spelling pattern, Challenge Words are also set for the term to ensure that all year group Spelling Lists have been covered. Hive games allow the teacher to assess and keep track of children’s progress. Small group or individual intervention is planned when needed. 

 

Handwriting

Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 follow the Letter-join programme to create strong foundations in letter formation and handwriting. Where required, these activities are used as intervention within Key Stage 2. Handwriting is taught explicitly as well as being picked up on in writing sessions. Handwriting lessons continue throughout school and may focus on patterns, letter formation or correct joins. Topic words and year group spellings are also practised during handwriting sessions.

 

Wragby Writer

Children who have demonstrated a particular skill or progress with their writing are presented with Wragby Writer certificate in our Celebration Assembly and their work is proudly displayed on our Wragby Writer board.