Writing at Thorndown
Subject Leader: Mrs Browne (Year 2 Teacher)
At Thorndown, writing is a crucial part of our cross curricular curriculum. All children from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 6 are provided with many opportunities to develop and apply their writing skills across the curriculum.
Our aim is for children to be able to plan, revise and evaluate their writing. To be able to do this effectively, children will focus on developing effective transcription and effective composition. They will also develop an awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. We also expect children to leave school being able to use fluent, legible and speedy handwriting.
Writing at Thorndown is centered around a high quality text that captures the children’s interest from the outset. The model that is used to teach writing is a personalised approach based around best practice. The school environment enfolds children in texts, stories, settings and language. There is a focus on drama, oracy and vocabulary development and sentence construction, equipping children with fundamental knowledge and skills that will enable them to be successful throughout their lives.
Please click on the link below to see how writing progresses from Early Years right through to Year 6 at Thorndown Primary School.
Here you can also view the English overviews for Early Years, Key Stage and Key Stage Two.
Year 1 and 2 Overview
We are really trying hard to become super writers at our school. Look at how we learn how to write!
Early Years
We follow Greg Bottrill’s approach of Drawing Club. He describes this as “a true adventure and perfect for Reception. Based around the golden blend of picture books, tales and animations, it involves a short period of time together as a whole class followed by time with children exploring their ideas and creativity.” In Reception we also ‘write’ from first hand experiences. Drawing Club allows us to write with the children in small groups daily, where the children have focused adult support, writing for a variety of purposes. Our writing goes into our very special writing folders.
Early writing is taught through early mark making, then when the children begin phonics they are taught the letter formations. This begins with writing CVC words, moving onto short sentences using the sounds they have been taught. They are encouraged to write independently in continuous provision.
Writing
Children at Thorndown are encouraged to see writing as a journey; re-drafting and editing are used before writing is published. Writing extends across the curriculum with children being given opportunities to write for a range of different purposes outside of the writing lesson.
We believe that these are the essential elements of a writing unit.
Click on the images below to see examples of our writing.
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To help children realise their full potential and maintain high expectations in every piece of writing, we have devised a list of writing expectations to be met every session and ensure that all previous learning is built upon. Any children that need extra support to achieve these expectations will have strategies in place with their class teacher.
We hope you find this useful.
Year 1 Checklist
Year 2 Checklist
Year 3 Checklist
Year 4 Checklist
Year 5 Checklist
Year 6 Checklist
SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar)
In the English curriculum, punctuation, grammar and spelling now play a key role in the child’s writing. It is essential that SPaG is taught daily across both key stages, starting at Year 2. Our sessions are interactive and engaging. Some sessions are taught as stand-alone lessons and others are taught as starters to the day’s English lesson.
Spelling is one of the curriculum areas we are working to develop at Thorndown, and we have changed how spelling is taught. Each class, from Year 2 to Year 6, have separate spelling lessons each week, as well as developing their knowledge of spelling through phonics, grammar, reading and writing lessons. The spelling lessons look at spelling patterns and children engage in playing spelling games and editing sentences. Research has shown that weekly spelling tests are not the most effective way for children to learn spellings, as they tend to forget them quickly. Children need to apply their knowledge regularly as part of their ongoing work. Spelling lists for different year groups have been published within part of the National Curriculum. To help us ensure your child’s year group spellings remain current for them, you could help by practising at home. Below you can find fun ways of learning spellings in our spelling guide attached. No more than 10 minutes of practice every week is required.
Handwriting
At Thorndown, our aim is that pupils will be supported to develop a handwriting style which is clear, joined and fluid. Inevitably some will be neater than others, but each child can acquire a consistent and fluent style. This process begins in early years where the children master letter formation first and this continues into Year 1 where the children are introduced to the joined style. We believe this raises standards in writing in the early years which will impact throughout the whole school, developing confidence, accuracy and fluency and improved presentation.
The handwriting style helps:
- to minimise confusion for the child as every letter starts on the line with an exit stroke;
- as letters naturally flow into each other, this helps children to join their handwriting;
- form spacing between words as the child develops whole word awareness;
- to develop a child’s visual memory;
- all children’s writing skills regardless of academic ability;
- to develop skills of punctuation and grammar.
School Awards
Each week during Celebration Assembly children from each class are awarded for being ‘A Thorndown Super Writer’. Children from each class have the opportunity to display their work in the hall and receive a certificate. An overall winner is selected and they receive a trophy for ‘Super Writer’.
