We engage children with the writing process by using a wide variety of films and texts.  The children undertake a series of lessons that develop the writing process.

The writing process is directly linked to our reading provision and is displayed on our English working walls Children are encouraged to make use of support available to enhance their independent writing skills.   The children help to develop a set of success criteria/writing toolkit during each unit which will enable them to assess their own writing.   We make use of InnovatEducation’s  genre progression documents to support teachers in their pitch.

The writing foci for each term will be linked to the long-term planning document and covers the full range of genres during a child’s time within each phase. Each phase selects one key genre as the focus for the half term and then supports this with other genres of writing to explore the project/text.

	EYFS and Year 1	Year 2	LKS2	UKS2
Autumn 1	Narratives with repeating pattern	Narratives with repeating pattern	Stories from other cultures - ​  Recount and persuasive writing as additional writing opportunities.	Recounts  - character perspective
Autumn 2	Fairy tales and Rhymes	Instruction writing for recipes ​ Narrative	Non-Chronological reports	Sci-fi adventure stories
Spring 1	Biographies	Non fiction information texts about places	Stories with a historical setting	Non chronological report
Spring 2	Information texts and instructions	Fairy tales	Explanation texts	Recount - Diary
Summer 1		Biography focus Narrative -  Shirley Hughes	Comics to tell a story	Narrative
Summer 2	Poems and rhymes	Creation myths from around the world	Narrative Poetry	Debate/ Persuasion

Grammar Punctuation and spelling

To support teaching and learning in Grammar and Punctuation we use No Nonsense Grammar – a programme written by the Babcock LPD team to meet the needs of National Curriculum in a manageable way. The subject is taught discreetly and within English lessons.  Spelling is taught weekly and the words are sent home for children to practise.  The spelling patterns are revisited and built upon throughout a child’s time a St Mary’s.  The children in Upper Key Stage 2 use the spellings in weekly dictation sentences.  The children self-select the spellings they learn but can seek guidance from their class teacher.

Fine Motor Skills

We aim for our children to leave in Year 6 with the ability to write using their own style of fast, fluent, legible and sustainable handwriting, as well as other styles of writing for specific purposes. In addition to teaching handwriting during our regular fine motor skills lessons, we develop shoulder, arm and wrist strength through a variety of fine motor skills.   We have high expectations that what is taught and practised in fine motor lessons will be used in all writing activities. We believe that handwriting is integral to a child’s personal development and know that children’s engagement and self-esteem can be improved by their satisfaction and pride in good quality presentation. ​

For more information, please use the links below

Discussion

Explanation

Instructional Writing

Narrative (Venture)

Narrative (Myth)

Non Chronological

Persuasive Writing

Progression in Poetry

Recount