Writing Curriculum
Intent
At Snapethorpe, we aim to provide children with strong foundations in basic skills as well as fostering children’s passion for communicating and expressing themselves through writing. We place great importance on equipping our children with the knowledge, confidence, vocabulary and skills to become effective communicators of the future. We want our children to write independently and confidently for a variety of audiences and purposes and showcase their learning across the wider curriculum. Our curriculum is built around quality, language-rich texts chosen for their diversity and ability to inspire. These texts motivate children to produce writing that has meaning and purpose.
Everything we do in writing reflects our school motto — “Caring for All, Learning for Life” — and promotes our school learning powers: Aspiration, Independence, Engagement, Curiosity, and Resilience.
We aim to:
· Provide children with fluency and automaticity in their handwriting starting from Early Years and continuing through to Year 6.
· Provide a strong foundation in phonics in Early Years and Year 1, linking phonics knowledge to accurate spelling.
· Equip pupils with strategies to learn and apply spelling patterns and rules.
· Teach children to write quality sentences using correct grammar and punctuation.
· Expand children’s vocabulary for use in discussion and writing.
· Provide pupils with the knowledge of how to adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences.
· Create passionate and creative writers who are keen to communicate through written forms.
Implementation
Our writing curriculum follows a carefully structured learning sequence that builds as children go through school.
Early Years
In Early Years, children begin their writing journey by developing confidence and control in their transcription skills.
- Handwriting is taught daily using the Letterjoin scheme from the first half term in Reception.
- Gross and fine motor skills are strengthened through a well-planned continuous provision.
- Non-negotiables ensure children, staff, and families work together so no child misses out on key basic skills such as correct pencil grip and posture.
- Through the Little Wandle Phonics scheme, children learn to segment and spell simple words in daily phonics.
- Our provision offers plentiful opportunities for purposeful writing and vocabulary development.
Speaking and listening form the foundation for writing. Through high-quality adult interactions, children develop their oracy skills, supporting all aspects of communication and future writing. We also use dictation to reduce cognitive load and help children focus on the basics of handwriting and spelling.
Key Stage 1
As children move into Key Stage 1, they continue to build on the skills learned in Early years.
- Phonics teaching continues through Little Wandle, and from Year 2, pupils progress onto Little Wandle Spelling Units.
- Daily handwriting practice following the Letter Join Scheme ensures fluency and correct letter formation.
- Oracy remains a key focus, encouraging children to develop and use new vocabulary.
The immersion stage of our writing sequence ensures children are motivated and eager to write! After that, children spend focused time developing sentence-level skills before applying them in short burst writing. Toward the end of Year 2, simple text types are introduced and children begin to explore key features. Dictation remains a key skill in teaching.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, Children become more competent writers and begin to explore authorial intent linked to a greater range of texts. Basic skills continue to be a focus through:
- Daily spelling lessons following the Spelling Shed Scheme
- Daily handwriting following the Letter Join Scheme. Children begin to join from Year 3 onwards.
- A heavy focus on sentence-level work and gradually learning to apply these skills.
Children are supported and taught how to plan, draft, revise, and edit their work independently. Techniques such as “Let’s Say” are used to inspire creativity and engagement.
Impact
Our writing curriculum enables children to develop transferable skills that enhance learning across all subjects. Through exposure to diverse, high-quality texts, pupils gain a love of language and imagination. They leave Snapethorpe with the skills and confidence to write with fluency, accuracy, and creativity.
Our outcomes show that:
- The majority of children in Early Years achieve the Early Learning Goal for writing. Children who further support then receive targeted intervention to make accelerated progress in Key Stage 1.
- The majority of children achieve the expected standard for reading and writing in Key Stage 1 and 2.
- Children are enthusiastic and passionate writers who take pride in their writing.
