Writing

Our Writing Curriculum- Our Pathway to Writing 

Writing Intention

At our Federation our pupils enjoy writing. Writing is a fundamental part of our curriculum. Writing is a powerful means of communication which builds on the spoken word. This vital skill is necessary to allow pupils to function, engage and contribute within our society. We have developed a bespoke mastery writing process built around text led units of work which develop vocabulary, reading and writing skills through a mastery approach. We have designed a writing process that is bespoke, forensic and research based. This process is sequential and builds up to a writing outcome.

Through careful curriculum mapping, strong links have been made with the four SJC cornerstones:

City Living;

Communication and language;

Aspirations;

Celebrating Diversity.

We have high expectations in place around the vocabulary children use. Through the rigorous teaching of reading a wide range of vocabulary is collected and defined to be used in independent writing. We are aware of and celebrate the diversity of the community we are in and acknowledge that a focus on vocabulary is essential to build skills as 80% of our children have English as an additional language.

Our Federation’s Writing Curriculum provides a bespoke writing process built around text led units of work which develop vocabulary, reading and writing skills through a mastery approach.  Our writing process reflects research and includes formative assessment, which then informs which key writing skills need to be taught.  A comprehensive mix of shared, modelled and guided writing develops writing fluency and confidence.

Summative assessment is then used to inform future planning. Children are taught key writing skills through non-negotiable basic writing skills, mastery skills for each year group and feature skills which are genre specific. Standard language is used for writing across the school so children have a solid understanding of the writing process. Furthermore, we ensure that: children are taught the key features of a wide range of different genres; children have opportunity to write independently; assessment for learning strategies are woven throughout and that cursive handwriting is expected and taught explicitly and frequently from Year 2. Throughout the whole process we strive to engage the interests of the children and to widen knowledge and experience of the wider world, further afield than the immediate city environment.

Writing is celebrated across the curriculum. Children have the chance to publish their final pieces to share with others. We want all children to be proud of what they have achieved and our bespoke writing curriculum makes this possible.

Our Writing Curriculum is just as ambitious as the National Curriculum and includes the National Curriculum aims of:

• transcription (spelling and handwriting)
• composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing).
• The National Curriculum requires that children are taught key skills and processes that are essential for writing. At St Chrysostom’s we want our children to be successful at each stage of the writing process: · Planning · Drafting and writing · Evaluating and Editing · Proof reading · Reading aloud to others
• As part of this process, children are given opportunities to write for real purposes and audiences. Our pupils have opportunities to apply and showcase their writing skills across the curriculum.