We aim to equip children with the effective skills needed to write, be proud of their work and to see themselves as authors. At Frittenden we use the Power of Reading, which ensures that the teaching of writing is delivered in a creative, stimulating and cross-curricular way, linked to high quality texts.

The Power of Reading:

• Helps schools create a whole school reading ethos that allows children to engage with and progress in Reading and Writing.
• Places high quality children’s literature at the heart of the English curriculum.
• Uses creative approaches to enrich teaching and learning
• Provides schools with the subject knowledge and the tools to deliver a high quality, creative English curriculum.

Children are exposed to a range of different writing genres, which have been specifically tailored for their phase. Through the cross-curricular teaching sequences, children are immersed in high quality texts so that they are continuously developing their language and the skills needed to produce their own high quality pieces of writing.

The PoR sequences build up to creating a large and purposeful piece of writing. The writing environment is prepared, purpose for writing is given and sufficient time is provided for children to write at length. The following session focuses on editing and improving that piece to produce a polished and improved piece of work. In these sessions, children develop the skills needed to proof-read and edit their work, constantly working towards taking those next steps to improve their writing.

The teaching of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS) is also an integral part of all English lessons and children are taught how to structure and punctuate their writing correctly, becoming fluent with the relevant terminology. Children are taught using a Teach, Practise, Apply model in classes to ensure that they can apply the skills they have learnt in their writing. Working Walls are used throughout school to display the journey that each class have taken through a teaching sequence. Children refer to the working walls throughout lessons for inspiration, to up-level their language and to check their work.

Handwriting skills are taught and developed every day throughout Year 1 to Year 4 and then in regular sessions throughout Year 5 and Year 6. These lessons are taught using a Teach, Practise, Apply model. Children are encouraged to join their letter and use fully cursive handwriting from Year 1. All adults model cursive writing for the children. Please see our handwriting and presentation policy below.

Alongside our English lessons, children are also enjoying Writing Focus Tasks. These are weekly stand-alone writing lessons that are devised from a range of creative and engaging stimuli. With these, children have chance to apply their own personal writing flair, combined with all of their GPS skills learnt, to create exciting pieces of writing that they are proud of.