English Writing

Purpose of study

English has a pre-eminent place in education and society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others, and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.

Aims

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
Write accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
Use discussion to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate

Writing in Key Stages 1 and 2 is constructed similarly to that for reading:

transcription (spelling and handwriting)
composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing)

It is essential that teaching develops pupils’ competences in these areas. Our pupils are taught how to plan, revise and evaluate their writing.

Spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

There are two statutory appendices – on spelling and vocabulary, grammar and punctuation – that give an overview of the specific features that should be included in teaching the programmes of study.

Opportunities for teachers to enhance pupils' vocabulary arise naturally from their reading and writing. As vocabulary increases, teachers should show pupils how to understand the relationships between words, how to understand nuances in meaning, and how to develop their understanding of, and ability to use, figurative language. They should also teach pupils how to work out and clarify the meanings of unknown words and words with more than 1 meaning. References to developing pupils’ vocabulary are also included in the appendices.

Pupils should be taught to control their speaking and to use Standard English. They should be taught to use the elements of spelling, grammar, punctuation and ‘language about language’ listed. This is not intended to constrain or restrict teachers’ creativity, but simply to provide the structure on which they can construct exciting lessons. A non-statutory glossary is provided for teachers.

Throughout the programmes of study, teachers should teach pupils the vocabulary they need to discuss their reading, writing and spoken language. It is important that pupils learn the correct grammatical terms in English and that these terms are integrated into teaching.

English National Curriculum

Our Writing Lead is Mr Shaun Keeling

Our Vision for Writing:

All members of the school community know the importance of writing and its transferable skills for a variety of contexts and purposes. Pupils are taught to write coherently with an understanding of their audience. This enables them to become fluent and enthusiastic writers throughout their learning journey. Writing at Causeway is committed to the page passionately and with purpose. Passion with purpose.

Handwriting:

Even in today’s digital world, good handwriting is still an important life skill for children. At Causeway Green Primary School, we use the Penpals for Handwriting programme to help your child develop clear, confident, and speedy handwriting. This step-by-step approach supports children as they learn to write in a way that is easy to read and comfortable to use. Good handwriting helps children:

Write with confidence
Build strong spelling skills through muscle memory
Communicate their ideas more clearly

To learn more about how we support handwriting at our school, please explore the Penpals for Handwriting documents linked below.

Why writing is important in the Early Years

Writing is an important lifelong skill. Children need to learn to write so they can communicate and express themselves. Writing and mark-making experiences in the early years will provide lots of meaningful opportunities for children to learn about the written word and to support them in understanding that symbols carry meaning. Research shows that for writing to develop, you should provide young children with opportunities to build their physical strength and control in the core, upper body, hands and fingers. We provide lots of opportunities to develop these essential skills through fun, physical activities. Formal writing, taught later in reception, involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing). Our reception children enjoy daily Adventure Time sessions, which provide a regular opportunity to write.

Below you can see the Writing Progression across our school for every year group. You will also find useful documents at the bottom of the page.