We strive to help our children develop into articulate and imaginative communicators, who are well-equipped with the basic skills they need to become life-long learners. We believe that English learning is key to this. We aim to ensure that all of our children develop a genuine love of language and the written word, through a text-based, vocabulary rich approach.
We want our children to feel that their writing has a real purpose, therefore we focus on writing for a purpose.
We aim for all children to develop an understanding of how widely writing is used in everyday life and, therefore, how important and useful the skills are that they are learning.
Handwriting
We teach handwriting from Reception using alliterative phrases linked to the success for all phonics scheme. From year 3 (or in Y2 if a child is ready) the children learn to use a cursive/joined-up handwriting style.
Handwriting is a basic skill that influences the quality of work throughout the curriculum. At the end of Key Stage 2, all pupils should have the ability to produce fluent, legible and eventually, speedy, joined-up handwriting, and to understand the different forms of handwriting used for different purposes. We aim to make handwriting an automatic process that does not interfere with creative and mental thinking.
Useful sites:
Help for Parents (nha-handwriting.org.uk)
Activities to Improve Handwriting - The OT Toolbox
Spelling
Once our children have a secure phonological knowledge in Y2 we start to teach spelling using Jungle Club resources from Fisher Family Trust Success for all. This builds upon and embeds the phonics taught in years R and 1.
From Y3 we use the Spelling shed materials to teach spelling. Spellings are sent home to learn and children are assessed weekly.
In addition to weekly spelling lessons children will learn the key words in the National Curriculum The national curriculum in England - English Appendix 1: Spelling (publishing.service.gov.uk).
Grammar and Punctuation
Grammar and punctuation are taught through reading, discreet lessons and through the writing process.
Useful Sites:
Spelling - KS2 English - BBC Bitesize
Teaching Spelling (dyslexics.org.uk)
KS2 English: Spelling Rules with the Super Movers Crew - BBC Teach
Writing
If you would like any more information on how we teach writing, please contact your class teacher.
