At Curbar Primary School, we aim for our children to leave the school able to communicate effectively in writing – and enjoy being able to express themselves in this way. We have undertaken a multifaceted approach to writing, whereby many subject areas include the opportunity for pupils to express their thoughts in a range of written styles and contexts. Through our teaching sequence for writing (see below) we: immerse our children in a genre of writing; analyse and identify the skills necessary to be successful; teach the skills (often linked to grammar and punctuation); draft and improve our writing. We write for a purpose. For example, if we are writing about an important issue we might choose to write to our MP (she replied – see below).
Or we consider our audience and put up our missing dinosaur posters around the village (lots of people replied!)
It is important that our children are exposed to a range of exemplar texts, from across different genres, different cultures and different themes, to embed ambitious vocabulary choices and secure expectations of writing across the curriculum. Handwriting and spelling is also taught regularly across school to enable the children to become fluent and legible writers who have developed a proficient level of spelling.
The teaching sequence for writing
Progression in Fiction Writing at Curbar Primary School (2-year cycle)
Reception
Fables
Fantasy
Classic literature
Stories by the same author/themes
Stories from other cultures
Stories that raise issues
Traditional/Fairy tales
Years 1 and 2:
Fables
Fantasy
Classic literature
Stories by the same author/themes
Stories from other cultures
Stories that raise issues
Traditional/Fairy tales
Stories with familiar settings
Adventure
Humour
Years 3 and 4:
Fables
Fantasy
Classic literature
Stories by the same author/themes
Stories from other cultures
Stories that raise issues
Twisted Traditional/Fairy tales
Adventure and mystery
Humour
Historical stories
Myths and Legends
Years 5 and 6:
Fables
Fantasy
Classic literature
Stories by the same author/themes
Stories from other cultures
Stories that raise issues
Traditional/Fairy tales
Adventure and mystery
Humour
Historical stories
Myths and Legends
Flashbacks
Progression in Non-Fiction Writing at Curbar Primary School (2-year cycle)
Reception:
Poetry
Information
Letter
Recount
Instruction
Non-chronological report
Years 1 and 2:
Poetry
Information
Letter
Recount/diaries
Instruction
Non-chronological report
Journalistic (Newspaper)
Years 3 and 4:
Poetry (Performance)
Information
Letter
Recount/diaries
Instruction
Non-chronological report
Journalistic (Newspaper)
Explanation
Persuasion
Biography
Discussion
Years 5 and 6:
Poetry (Performance)
Information
Letter
Recount/diaries
Instruction
Non-chronological report
Journalistic (Newspaper)
Explanation
Persuasion
Biography and auto biography
Discussion
Playscripts
Discussion/Debate
Please see the school’s long term plan over our two year cycle:
Writing long term plan September 23