Writing

Writing Strategy 

We Amaze by writing in a widening variety of forms for different purposes.

We Achieve by developing ideas and communicating meaning to the reader.

We Aspire to cultivate a love and skill for writing that empowers children to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions with clarity and creativity.

Curriculum Intent

At Harworth Church of England Academy our English curriculum provides every child with the passion and skills to be fully articulate and an excellent reader and writer. Our curriculum ensures that every child has the opportunity to learn and practice their skills through interest and enjoyment. Writing is a skill for life which reaches into every area of the curriculum, making our English curriculum the epicentre of all of our learning. We ensure that our children are exposed to high quality literature which they emulate in their words and writing.

What do we want for our children in this subject?

To cultivate a love and skill for writing that empowers students to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions with clarity and creativity. At Harworth Church of England Academy, we aim for children to see writing not only as an academic skill but as a tool for self-expression, communication, and connection. By developing a strong foundation in writing, children will gain confidence in their ability to articulate their ideas, make connections across subjects, and use their voices to make a positive impact on their world.

Writing at Harworth Church of England Academy becomes a lifelong skill that extends far beyond the classroom. As children learn to communicate effectively and thoughtfully, they’ll be better equipped to engage with the world around them, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and inspire others. Through the written word, they’ll be able to capture moments, reflect on their experiences, and pass on their insights and stories to future generations.

How do we cater for pupils with SEND and Disadvantaged?

We ensure that all children are fully involved in all English lessons. Consistent phonics teaching ensures that every child is a writer. SEND and Disadvantaged children are fully supported with scaffolded learning and targeted interventions in school.

Introduction

By fostering a love for writing, Harworth Church of England Academy prepares children for academic success. We will empower children to communicate with purpose, bridge connections, and carry their words into every corner of their lives. This commitment to writing will echo beyond their school years, shaping them into lifelong communicators who can share their passion for words with generations to come.

Each term has the foci of one or two high quality texts which have been carefully selected to provide the stimuli for writing for different purposes. Educational visits are planned each term to enable the children to immerse themselves in a variety of topics. By focusing on writing that draws from children’s own experiences, we not only help them become strong, confident writers but also individuals who are capable of deep reflection and genuine communication. This lasting appreciation for writing will enable them to carry their skills and love of words beyond school, enriching their lives and the lives of those around them.

Approaches to teaching writing 

Phonics is taught daily in FS and KS1 following Twinkl Phonics supplemented with additional application activities. Phonics is taught in KS2 on a needs led basis. All FS children are provided with opportunities that encourage and celebrate emergent writing. Throughout the school children will participate in both shared and guided writing sessions led by the class teacher. Opportunities for independent and extended writing will be provided through the English curriculum and through cross curricular contexts.

Many lessons include and depend on written communication.  We want our children to develop increasing confidence and competence in writing so that they are able to:

• write in a widening variety of forms for different purposes e.g. to interpret, evaluate, explain, analyse and explore;

• develop ideas and communicate meaning to a reader using wide-ranging and technical vocabulary and an effective style, organising and structuring sentences grammatically and whole texts coherently;

• present their writing clearly using accurate punctuation, correct spelling and legible handwriting.  

Helping your child with writing

Supporting your child’s writing at home can be enjoyable and rewarding and there are many simple, engaging ways to help foster a love for writing:

Create a Writing-Friendly Environment

• Set up a cosy writing space: Provide a dedicated area for writing with supplies like paper, notebooks, markers, pencils, and even fun extras like stickers or stamps.
• Have a variety of materials: Include materials for different types of writing, like blank paper for drawing stories, lined paper for sentences, and journals for daily reflections.

Encourage Regular Writing in Fun Ways

• Incorporate daily journaling: Encourage your child to keep a journal where they can write about their day, feelings, or interests. You can even write your own journal entries and share them, making it a family activity.
• Write letters or notes: Writing letters to family members or friends can be exciting. You can write back, so your child can see the joy of exchanging written words.
• Create a story-telling routine: Take turns as a family telling stories, and then encourage your child to write down their favourite ones or draw a comic strip version.

Be Supportive and Show Interest

• Celebrate their writing: Praise your child’s efforts and ideas, focusing on what they did well rather than mistakes. Acknowledge the creativity or humour in their work.
• Display their writing: Show your child that their work is valued by displaying it on the fridge or in a special folder. They’ll feel proud and motivated to write more.

Engage in Writing Together

• Collaborate on family stories: Work together to write stories about family adventures or create “family books” where each family member contributes.
• Write grocery lists or to-do lists: Let your child help with practical writing, like adding items to a shopping list. This shows them that writing is a helpful tool in everyday life.

Use Writing to Express Interests

• Encourage writing about what they love: Whether it’s dinosaurs, superheroes, sports, or art, your child will be more motivated to write about their favourite topics.
• Make use of games: Word games like hangman or creating word searches can improve vocabulary and spelling in an enjoyable way.

Model Writing Behaviour

• Let them see you writing: Whether it’s a shopping list, a letter, or a journal entry—they understand that writing is a useful, everyday skill.
• Read together: Exposure to different types of writing can inspire your child. Reading stories, poems, or even newspapers together can spark their imagination and show the variety of ways writing is used.

Focus on Storytelling and Imagination

• Encourage storytelling aloud: Talking through a story can help your child get ideas flowing, even if they struggle to put it into writing at first. You can write down their story for them, if needed.
• Ask open-ended questions: When discussing a story, ask “What happened next?” or “How would you change the ending?” to get your child thinking creatively.

Give Positive Feedback on Content, Not Just Spelling

• Praise ideas and effort: Encourage you child by acknowledging the creative ideas they bring to their writing, rather than focusing only on spelling or grammar.
• Celebrate progress: Show your child how they are improving over time by comparing recent writing to older pieces 

What we do

Foundation Stage Reading Intentions

We equip the children with the knowledge of the alphabet and provide skills in order to form  etters correctly

We aspire for every child to develop confidence to write.

We allow access to a variety of high quality texts from different genres and cultures.

We model the correct way to hold a pencil, sit correctly and equip children with the skills to write from left to right.

We aspire to begin/further the children’s journey towards a love of communicating through writing.

Foundation Stage Implementation

In Foundation Stage we lay the foundations for encouraging the disposition of writing. The teaching of writing takes place through, modelled, guided and shared writing sessions.

Children have a daily phonics lesson at 11am using the validated Twinkl Scheme. Linked handwriting lessons take place every day.

Writing sessions increase the enjoyment of writing and explore new vocabulary.

Spellings begin in the Spring term and follow the order of phonics learning.

Modelling of writing and how to sit correctly is used to teach children good writing habits.

Children have small group writing sessions with an adult at least once each week. 

Children who need extra input have targeted interventions on a daily or weekly basis according to need.  Children are targeted within the provision to work on specific areas such as letter formation. 

Foundation Stage Reading Impact

We aspire for children to have a love of writing.

Children have the confidence to pick up a pencil and attempt to write as a means of communication.

Children will leave Foundation Stage ready to access the KS1 curriculum.

Key Stage 1

Key stage 1 intention

We aim to provide all children with the skills and strategies to write with confidence, in a variety of different forms and for different purposes.

We aspire to establish a love for writing where children choose to write and inspire an interest in words and what they mean to enable children to develop an increasing oral and written vocabulary.

We use a growing technical vocabulary allowing children the opportunities to talk about their writing.

We ensure all children experience a range of genres in fiction, non-fiction and poetry, and are able to discuss some of the ways in which narratives are constructed. 

Key stage 1 implementation

In Key Stage 1 children are taught writing strategies through modelled, shared and guided sessions.

Children have a guided writing session at least once a week.

SEND, Disadvantaged and EAL children have additional sessions each week to develop their writing skills. This might involve working on sentence structure, handwriting or spelling.

Daily phonics lessons using the validated Twinkl scheme. Children experience a whole class session followed by individual/group teaching as and when required. This includes any catch up or same day intervention required. 

KS1 Writing Impact

To have a lifelong love of writing and to leave KS1 with the skills to access the lower KS2 curriculum.

To be able to make amazing connections between the books they have read and their own writing. 

Assessment in EYFS and Key Stage 1

Writing is assessed through weekly spelling tests, marking of children’s written work, guided writing and SEN/ Disadvantaged/EAL support sessions.

Teachers assess against the objectives in the red writing target booklets e.g. Composition – W6- I can sequence sentences in chronological order to recount an event or story.

At the end of each half term the writing assessment grid is completed using evidence including assessed pieces of writing, target books and professional judgement. Every term teacher assessments are inputted into FFT.

Children who are working significantly behind are assessed using Bsquared.

KS2 Writing Intentions

We aim to provide all children with the skills and strategies to write with confidence, in a variety of different forms and for different purposes.

We aspire to establish a love for writing where children choose to write and inspire an interest in words and what they mean to enable children to develop an increasing oral and written vocabulary.

. Inspire an interest in words and acquire a wide vocabulary and an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for writing. To use this knowledge in their writing and spoken language to enable children to develop an increasing oral and written vocabulary.

Engage children with a growing technical vocabulary, allowing them the opportunities to talk about their writing.

Develop critical appreciation of what they write.

Develop study skills so that the children can select appropriate fiction and non-fiction books from the library to support written work.

Key Stage 2 Implementation

Children in Key Stage 2 have a class text that relates to a topic that they are studying. This text is read to the class and they will become fully immersed in it alongside linked writing opportunities.   

Children take part in a guided writing session every week where they spend time focusing on a particular writing objective or genre. 

SEND, Disadvantaged and EAL children have scaffolds and additional scaffolds to develop their writing. This might involve working on composition, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation or handwriting.

 Assessment in Key Stage 2

Writing is assessed through the marking of work, one to one and guided writing and SEN/Disadvantaged/EAL support sessions.

Teachers assess against the objectives in the red writing target booklets e.g. Composition – W6- I can write a narrative with clear structure, setting, characters and plot.

At the end of each half term the writing assessment grid is completed using evidence including assessed pieces of writing, target books and professional judgement. Every term teacher assessments are inputted into FFT.

Children who are working significantly behind are assessed using Bsquared. 

KS2 Impact

To have a lifelong love of writing.

 To leave KS2 with the skills necessary to access the KS3 curriculum.

To be able to share their writing with an audience.

To become a discerning writer recognising different genres as well as writing for different purposes.

To build writing stamina enabling sustained writing for pleasure.

Handwriting

We use a style called Continuous Cursive.  All children learn this right from Foundation Stage through to Year 6.  Click here for a useful guide to help support your child at home. 

Our English curriculum