Writing
Writing at The Alderton Infant School
Intent
At The Alderton Infant School we recognise the importance of English as an interconnected subject. Our intent is that pupils apply their knowledge and skills in reading, spoken language and writing to all subjects within the curriculum which will enable them to access the wider world.
Writing
Writing is an integral part of our curriculum, and all pupils are provided with opportunities to develop and build on previous knowledge through carefully planned curriculum maps building on a clear progression of skills approach. Multiple opportunities covering a range of genres to write in our progressive curriculum ensure that children are challenged in all curriculum areas. Our intent is that pupils will develop a clear understanding of the writing process and will develop their knowledge of writing for context and purpose.
Implementation
English is planned from the National Curriculum 2015 and content from the EYFS Framework supported by Development Matters 2021. Planning across all year groups includes Greater Depth opportunities which encourage pupils to apply their knowledge consistently, confidently and fluently.
Writing
Writing is expected every day and is taught through phonics and spelling sessions, handwriting sessions, teaching sequence for writing, shared writing, writing activities and tasks. Multiple opportunities to write in our progressive curriculum ensure that children are challenged in all curriculum areas.
Spelling is taught concurrently with reading as part of phonics lessons in EYFS and Y1. Once the application of phonics skills is secure within reading then the focus within phonics lessons shifts to enable children to further develop the many different spelling patterns and strategies. This is normally as children enter Y2. For those children that still require further intervention to support their reading, this will be provided in addition to the spelling sessions.
Planning in EYFS and in this academic year Y1, follows a ‘continuous provision’ style of teaching. Planning across all year groups includes Greater Depth opportunities which encourage pupils to apply their knowledge consistently, confidently and fluently, apply what they have learnt in one subject area across other areas and be confident to explain their understanding to others, including teaching other children what they have learnt.
Impact
Staff teams work closely together to develop each child as a learner. We aim to close gaps in attainment by being ambitious for our most vulnerable pupils and removing barriers so they can achieve their best.
The impact on our children includes:
- raised achievement and understanding in spoken sentence structure
- increased range of vocabulary
- raised grammatical understanding in speech to impact on writing
- Transferrable writing skills across the curriculum
- Increased familiarity and knowledge of 90 high-quality books through the implementation of the Fantastic Five for each half term
- Increased fluency in reading through the use of carefully selected books matched to the phonics progression.
No Pens Day