At West Wycombe, our writing curriculum is designed with a clear focus: to teach pupils how to write effectively and coherently for different purposes and readers. We expect our children to write every day.

Our writing begins in Reception where we support their early writing development through a structured progression of skills. Based on HeidiSong’s Chart of Developmental Progression, our curriculum is divided into several stages that align with the educational needs of young learners. This document outlines a developmental progression of a child's writing skills, categorized into twelve distinct stages, from essential pictorial representation to more complex spelling and sentence structures. West Wycombe School uses this developmental process to support children's writing development in Reception by recognizing and nurturing each writing stage. They encourage children to express ideas through pictures and random scribbling, gradually guiding them towards using symbols, random letters, and letter strings. Children are introduced to environmental print, beginning sounds, and inventive spelling as they progress. This structured approach helps children develop their literacy skills in a supportive and systematic manner, ensuring that each child moves through the stages at their own pace, ultimately achieving more accurate spelling and writing patterns. This structured approach helps them develop the necessary skills to become confident and competent writers. We use phonics skills to support their writing.

In Years 1-6, pupils are exposed to a range of genres and text types to enrich their writing experience and provide exposure to different styles and forms of writing. Writing well is a lifelong skill; we want all pupils to develop a love of literature.

Pupils will develop an understanding of transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing). Alongside this, pupils will create a sense of coherence and authorial intent.

The Phonics Shed scheme of work is used to teach morphology (word structure) and orthography (spelling structure) per the National Curriculum expectations. Pupils will develop their knowledge of the different text types and their purposes, specific to each key stage, and the conventions needed to emulate this.

Linked to reading, children will base their writing around a high-quality text. This approach ensures that they are consistently exposed to high-level vocabulary, enhancing their language skills and enriching their writing.

Intent

Our writing curriculum aims to empower our students with the skills to write effectively and coherently for different purposes and audiences. We want our students to develop a love of literature and become confident and competent writers who can express their ideas and thoughts clearly and creatively.

Implementation

Exposure to different genres and text types: Our writing curriculum includes a wide range of genres and text types, providing students with exposure to other styles and forms of writing. This will not only help them develop a diverse set of skills but also improve their understanding of different writing styles and conventions.

Focus on transcription and composition: Our curriculum focuses on developing both transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech and writing) skills. This ensures that our students have a firm grasp of the technical aspects of writing and can express their ideas effectively.

Handwriting progression: From Early Years to Key Stage 2, a handwriting progression map supports the teaching of letter formation. Cursive script is taught from Year 1, and discrete handwriting lessons are taught across year groups to ensure students develop neat and legible handwriting.

Phonics instruction: Within our school, we use the Phonics Shed scheme of work to teach morphology (word structure) and orthography (spelling structure) per the National Curriculum expectations. This will provide students with a strong foundation in spelling and support their development of a vast vocabulary.

Understanding text types and their purposes: Our students will learn about the different text types and their purposes specific to each key stage. They will also be exposed to the conventions and features needed to write each type effectively, giving them diverse writing skills.

Use of high-quality texts: Our writing curriculum is linked to reading, and students base their writing on high-quality texts. This approach ensures that students are consistently exposed to high-level vocabulary, enhancing their language skills and enriching their writing.

Impact

Our writing curriculum will significantly impact our students in the short and long term. By the end of each key stage, our students will:
- Be confident and competent writers who can write effectively for different purposes and audiences.
- Have a diverse set of writing skills and the ability to apply them to different genres and text types.
- Be able to articulate their ideas and thoughts clearly and creatively.
- Understand transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating and structuring ideas in speech and writing).
- Demonstrate neat and legible handwriting.
- Have a vast vocabulary and a strong understanding of text types and their conventions.
- Develop a love of literature and a lifelong appreciation for writing.
- Be well-prepared for their future academic and professional endeavours.

Page last updated: 06/06/24