Intent

At Joseph Turner Primary School, our intent for writing is to provide a comprehensive and engaging curriculum that fosters a love for writing and equips our pupils with the necessary skills to become confident, articulate, and successful communicators. We believe that writing is a fundamental tool for self-expression, critical thinking, and plays a big role in future academic and professional success. Our intent is to ensure that every child develops the ability to write effectively across a range of genres, for a range of purposes, while also nurturing their creativity, imagination, and individuality.

Following the aims and objectives of the National Curriculum, we follow a progressive learning journey, which builds upon previous teaching and ensures that each child’s needs are met. We want our children to draw upon a rich exposure to quality literature so that throughout the writing process, they can write as a reader and read as a writer.

Our teaching intends to equip pupils with the following skills:

• To immerse children in a wide range of quality texts and expose them to high level vocabulary.
• To acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
• To develop children’s speaking and listening skills through role play, performance, debates and discussion; being able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas.
• To write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.

We believe that having a secure foundation in literacy skills is essential to a high-quality education and will equip our children with the skills they need to participate in the wider society.

Implementation

High-Quality Curriculum - We have designed a carefully sequenced and well-structured writing curriculum that is aligned with the National Curriculum requirements. This is based on high-quality literature that engages learners and helps to develop children's vocabulary. Our curriculum introduces pupils to a wide variety of writing genres and writing for four key purposes: to entertain, to inform, to persuade and to discuss. We provide regular opportunities for extended writing tasks, allowing our pupils to develop their stamina and fluency in writing.

Whole-School Approaches - Our school promotes a whole-school, consistent approach to writing. We recognise the importance of cross-curricular writing opportunities, encouraging pupils to apply their writing skills in different subject areas and real-life contexts. To promote consistency, Year 1-6 following a writing cycle allowing children to explore writing as a reader and as an author.

Each lesson in our learning journey follows the same lesson structure using a ‘My Turn, Our Turn, Your Turn’ approach. Opportunities to proof-read and edit are built into each lesson.

Explicit Teaching of Writing Skills - Our teachers provide explicit and systematic instruction to develop pupils' writing skills. They model the writing process, including planning, drafting, editing, and redrafting, ensuring pupils understand the importance of these stages for producing high-quality written work. SPaG elements are embedded into each learning journey and opportunities to develop vocabulary happen every day. We provide regular feedback and encourage self and peer assessment, empowering pupils to take ownership of their writing and make improvements.

Adaptive Teaching - We recognise the diverse needs of our pupils and use adaptive teaching to support their progress in writing. Our teachers incorporate a range of scaffolding strategies, including guided writing, sentence starters, and word banks to support less confident writers. We also provide targeted interventions for pupils who require additional support, ensuring no child is left behind.

Assessment for Learning - Our school employs a range of formative and summative assessment strategies to assess pupils' progress and inform future teaching. Teachers provide regular written and verbal feedback, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement, enabling pupils to understand how to develop their writing further.

Impact

The English curriculum at Joseph Turner Primary School will ensure that all children have a coherent knowledge and understanding of the English language. They will also develop knowledge of a wide range of vocabulary which will enable them to express themselves effectively and fulfil their true potential. Their spoken language skills will have been developed through role play, performance and discussion. This will ensure that they will be able to thrive in Key Stage Three and beyond, and enable pupils to contribute successfully to their wider community.

High Standards of Writing - The impact of our writing provision is evidenced by the consistently high standards of writing exhibited by our pupils at the end of each learning journey. They demonstrate accuracy in spelling, grammar, and punctuation across a range of genres. Pupils' writing showcases creativity, originality, and a confident command of language, enabling them to express their ideas effectively.

Love for Writing - Our pupils develop a genuine love for writing as they experience the joy and satisfaction of seeing their ideas come to life on the page. They become skilled storytellers, persuasive writers, and informative communicators, engaging their audience through their written work.

Confidence and Independence - Through careful instruction and support, our pupils become confident and independent writers. They are equipped with the skills to plan, draft, edit, and redraft their work, taking pride in producing high-quality written pieces. Pupils develop a growth mindset, embracing challenges and valuing feedback to continually improve their writing ability.

Equality and Inclusion - Our approach to writing supports equality and inclusion, celebrating the diverse experiences and voices within our school community. We create a safe and supportive environment where all pupils, regardless of their background or ability, feel valued and encouraged to express themselves through their writing.

By delivering our intent through effective implementation, we strive to achieve a lasting impact that enables our pupils to become successful writers who can confidently navigate the challenges of written expression in an ever-evolving world.