Writing

Intent

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

The national curriculum for Writing aims to ensure that all pupils:
– Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information

– Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language

– Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage

– Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences

– Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas

– Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate

 At Sowe Valley, writing is an integral part of our curriculum and therefore all children from Foundation Stage to Year 6 are provided with many opportunities to develop and apply their writing skills across the curriculum. It is our intention that pupils develop a clear understanding of the writing process in order to establish themselves as an author in their own right. At Sowe Valley, we foster pupils’ interest in writing and take pupils on a writing journey which builds their knowledge of writing for purpose, allows opportunities for the children to explore a variety of genres, planning, drafting and re-drafting their writing. It is our intention at Sowe Valley to broaden our pupils’ exposure to high level vocabulary to allow pupils to apply their understanding of vocabulary and grammatical features within and across the English curriculum. 

We intend that pupils at Sowe Valley learn how to understand the relationships between words, word meaning, implied meaning and figurative language within writing lessons, whilst ensuring that children are supported in their spelling strategies. We teach pupils how to work out and clarify the meanings of unknown words and words with more than one meaning.

Immersion

• Every child will have the opportunity to write and post a letter
• Every child will have the opportunity to visit the birthplace of Shakespeare
• Every child will have the opportunity to participate in blogging
• Every child will have the opportunity to perform to an audience
• Children will be given the opportunity to enter competitions e.g. |Young Writers