“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.”

~Martin Luther King

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

~Robin Williams

Writing Intent

Our English curriculum aims to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a sound understanding of the spoken and written word.

Teaching equips children with a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for writing and spoken language. Children will also use discussions to learn, having the ability to explain their understanding and ideas. As well as this, children are competent in the arts of speaking and listening; making formal presentations that demonstrate their ability to present, share their ideas and debate.

Children leave Beanfield with the ability to write clearly, accurately and coherently, understanding how to adapt their writing style to fit a range of contexts, purposes and audiences.

Writing Implementation

We strive to make the teaching and learning of English an integral part of our curriculum. Speaking and listening, drama strategies (such as talk for writing), writing and reading are taught as much as possible in the purposeful context of the thematic curriculum, often linking to an age-appropriate class text. Lessons are structured in sequences, so that children are supported to gradually build upon genre knowledge before an extended piece of writing.  Children have daily writing opportunities which support their next steps.  Across a year, children will be taught to write in a range of narrative, non-narrative and poetic genres.

Fully cursive handwriting is taught using the Teach Handwriting scheme to guide progression and support planning. All teachers will model and directly teach handwriting for 30 minutes each day. The children will write in books with lined pages similar to their usual exercise books to support the transition of these skills into everyday writing. Handwriting sheets are used to ensure secure letter formation.

Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) are taught as discrete sessions as well as forming an intrinsic part of the teaching of writing. Specific SPAG objectives are covered within year groups to ensure that the children’s knowledge of spelling, punctuation and grammar progresses through their time at Beanfield. SPAG objectives are additionally taught discretely within our writing sequences to ensure children can implement their learning within their writing. Spellings taught follow the PiXL spelling rule scheme. Spelling rules are taught discretely in school, with a related spellings list being sent home weekly for further practise.  There is a PiXL app for children to access activities and games, which is a great resource for children to revise SPAG objectives.

At Beanfield, we are striving to provide the children with a full and rich language. Mrs Wordsmith resources are used to support children’s acquisition of Tier 2 vocabulary. This is taught discretely, through talk for writing and within writing sequences to ensure children are exposed to varied, extensive vocabulary.