Welcome to Saint Patrick's Writing Subject Page

Mission Statement

‘We arise today, to learn, love and grow through Jesus.’

At Saint Patrick’s we aim to create an environment in which each individual has the opportunity to thrive supported by values of Christ firmly built into our everyday foundations. Education, welfare and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do. Above all else, we want to foster a strong belief in all our children that they can succeed in all they do, no matter what. Working with all school parties, we wish to nurture each child’s potential and foster high aspirations. It is essential that we give them the tool kit needed to achieve their goals regardless of background or starting points.

Intent

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written language, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate.

Above all else, At Saint Patrick’s, it is our intent that writing across the curriculum will inspire, engage and challenge all pupils, enabling them to develop the skills to effectively communicate their thoughts, ideas and emotions to others. We aim to build the pupils’ stamina for writing, vocabulary knowledge and understanding of grammar, by creating a positive approach to an increasingly wide range of text types (including areas of fiction, non-fiction and poetry). We recognise the importance of fostering a culture where pupils take pride in their writing; write clearly and accurately; and modify their structure and language choices to suit a variety of audiences, purposes and contexts. To support pupils in moving towards independent writing at the age-related standard, we provide a wide range of writing stimuli, including the use of; modelled, shared and guided writing; peer assessment; and group discussion. These rich and varied set of learning opportunities support pupils in becoming confident and enthusiastic learners across all areas of the curriculum. At St Patrick’s, we want writing to equip our pupils with the necessary tools to communicate effectively and to provide them with the skills to become lifelong creative writers.

Our Curriculum

At Saint Patrick’s, we have developed our own personalised approach to the National Curriculum making it exciting, meaningful and relevant to our pupils with English Literature at the heart of the curriculum. Aligned with the end of year curriculum expectations, at Saint Patrick’s, we plan each unit focussed around a high-quality text as a means to not only develop a love of literature but to also appreciate the mechanical tools of writing in which are used to write for a range of purposes. The teaching of English works in conjunction with reading to ensure that our pupils are exposed to a wide and rich English curriculum with access and coverage of texts ranging from classic to current authors.

To work in conjunction with one of the overarching aims for English in the National Curriculum, at Saint Patrick’s, we plan and cater for high standards of language and literacy through our written units. In order to develop and expand vocabulary range, our English curriculum seeks to equip our children with a strong command of the spoken and written language. With vocabulary development at the heart of our teaching, we aim to equip our children with substantial world knowledge in order to allow them to engage with the demands of the curriculum. Throughout each unit of work, opportunities to speak and listen to others, are intertwined with many differing writing tasks such as shared, guided and independent pieces of writing in order to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, are able to develop their skills.

Implementation

At Saint Patrick’s, writing skills are predominantly taught during daily writing and SPAG lessons. Our English curriculum is broken down and planned for in manageable ways through the teaching and learning of different aspects of writing. For each year group, every objective – reading, writing and grammar is broken down into steps which indicate the knowledge and understanding required. As a school, we plan English so that our children are provided with many opportunities to re-visit, practise and apply learning. We strive to ensure that our English curriculum is pitched appropriately, that progress is evidenced and that deep learning is secure by the end of the year.

At Saint Patrick’s, our staff and pupils collaborate and are motivated to partake in a range of stimulating, challenging and inspiring opportunities which unlocks the door to a broad and balanced curriculum, encourages holistic development and enables our pupils to contribute to the wider life of the school. English is a core subject and is taught daily, however, it is also interwoven throughout the whole curriculum and plays in integral part in our cross-curricular approach. Opportunities to write at length across the curriculum are planned for on a two-weekly basis which allows our children to practice and develop skills and knowledge through many different vehicles and contexts whilst also providing further opportunity for our children to communicate and express themselves in different topic areas.

Curriculum coverage: 

Progression in non-fiction:

• experience a wide variety of high-quality texts in order to stimulate, develop, appreciate and understand the purpose of writing.

(small sample of texts studied) 

• are given the opportunity to write for real reasons, for different purposes and for a range of audiences.
• are motivated to write through exciting and stimulating learning experiences that inspire the children’s imaginations including visitors into school, trips out of school, themed weeks

• are motivated and encouraged throughout our school to be adventurous with their vocabulary and take risks with their ideas.

• access spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons which underpin the writing process. These are taught both explicitly and discretely within the writing process/topic.

• They follow the outcomes expected for each year group.
• They are given opportunities to develop and discover the links between the skills of writing, reading, speaking and listening, drama and role play.

• They are encouraged to understand the power and influence of language and how it changes and develops over time and throughout the world.
• They have the conventions of written and spoken Standard English modelled for them by all adults within school in order for them to develop their own abilities in Standard English.

• They have available a wide range of resources that they are taught and supported to use to enable them to become independent writers including dictionaries, thesauruses, working walls, word mats

• They are taught editing and proof reading as skills in themselves. They are exposed to a variety of strategies to enable them to do this effectively, including proof reading, blue pen work, self and peer assessment using assessment criteria.

• Have the opportunities to develop and apply their skills throughout the whole curriculum in an engaging and enjoyable way
• have the opportunity to share and celebrate their work with their peers in class, staff around school or on our writing journey walls in each unit.

Impact:

Through our writing curriculum we aim to ensure that all children fulfil their potential. At Saint Patrick’s, we have a supportive ethos and the teaching of writing supports children in developing their collaborative and independent skills whilst recognising the art of communicating effectively and with flare. Our core values around English and the integral role it plays in developing the holistic child across the curriculum ensures that all children experience challenge and success in English. Regular and meaningful writing activities develop a sense of ‘self-belief’ and encourage children to develop their own voice whilst expressing themselves in a meaningful way. These factors ensure that we are able to maintain high standards and good progress by the end of KS2.