Writing

Intent

Here at Sturton By Stow Primary School, our aim is for the process of writing to inspire our children and to incite excitement and creativity in all our learners. We aim to help our pupils develop a love of writing and embrace the opportunity to share their thoughts, understanding, imagination and emotion through this medium.

We want children to be:

Confident in their belief in themselves as a writer.
Keen writers who are able to write clearly and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts.
Enthusiastic and reflective within each stage of their written work.
Appreciative of our rich and varied literary heritage and able to adapt and apply the writing devices they explore within high quality texts.
Able to independently produce high quality writing across the curriculum of which they are proud.
Able to write neatly, legibly and with stamina.

Implementation

Our English Writing curriculum weaves explicitly with reading in order to expose the children to a wide range of quality texts and resources which inspire and motivates them as writers. A range of quality texts are used as exemplars to provide a structure to build teaching and learning upon. Through the texts chosen we engage our children in distinctive stages of writing; planning, drafting, editing and publishing; teaching and modelling the skills needed to effectively accomplish each. Modelled, shared and guided writing opportunities are utilised to demonstrate and develop grammar, punctuation and writing skills.

Active English is incorporated into our writing sessions daily from Y2 to Y6. This program allows learners to develop a deep understanding of the application of grammar elements within writing and is designed to allow the children to weave these aspects into their own writing.

Handwriting is taught in short sessions throughout the week. Children learn the correct letter formation and joining is encouraged from Year 2 once children are confidently forming letters. In upper Key Stage 2, children are able to use a pen once they are able to join letters neatly and legibly.

Spelling is taught in Year 2 using the Little Wandle Spelling Programme and Active Spelling programme from year 3 to 6. Both use the principles of mnemonics, intended to assist the memory to develop a breadth of vocabulary. They employ a Gradual Release of Responsibility model to ensure that by the end of Key Stage 2, pupils can confidently select an appropriate strategy to learn and retain a spelling pattern.

EYFS

In our Early Years Foundation Stage, Drawing Club is used to support writing. Drawing Club is a blend of storytelling, creativity, and early writing skills. Inspired by the work of Greg Bottrill, it invites children to step into imaginative worlds where “anything can happen.” Through shared stories, rich vocabulary, and open-ended “What if…?” questions, children create their own drawings to represent ideas, characters, and adventures. These drawings become a springboard for mark-making and early writing, helping children understand that their marks and words carry meaning.

Impact

Class Teachers monitor progress in Writing through daily teaching and feedback. Feedback aims to support children in their next steps and to identify and overcome misconceptions. Across each term, children are given the opportunity to plan, draft, edit and publish pieces of work independently. These are then used to inform assessment, next steps and future teaching and learning. At the end of each ‘big’ term, we assess children against the NC requirements in Writing and decide whether they are working at ARE.

The Writing Subject Leader monitors whole school progress through:

Book scrutiny
Learning walks
Pupil interviews
Data from progress grids

We aim to ensure all of our learners are confident and proficient in their writing ability and skills by the time they leave SBS.

SBS Writing Purpose Overview

SBS Handwriting policy