Intent, Implementation and Impact
Intent
At Eastgate Academy we ensure that our pupils develop a love of words and enjoyment in crafting their writing. Pupils are taught robust vocabulary, as this enhances their ability to think critically and communicate with precision.
Fluency in writing is achieved through the essential competency in phonics, grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting. These corner stones of the writing process allow our pupils to plan, revise and evaluate their writing effectively. Our pupils employ these skills to organise their ideas to match audience and purpose. We aim for every child to be able to express themselves with confidence and pride through the written word.
Implementation
At Eastgate Academy Writing is taught 4x per week across the school via the ‘Write Stuff’ programme. Each class studies a high quality text lasting a half-term. We believe that reading and writing are inextricably linked and that studying a quality text encourages children to make links and become empathetic and ambitious writers.
Long and Medium Term Plans from YR -Y6 ensures that a variety of genres are progressively taught and built upon both throughout the year and throughout the school. Children from Y1-Y6 are taught the writing process of planning, drafting and editing. Children work on constructing quality sentences which are then used to produce x6 pieces of ‘worked’ writing per year. Shorter writes in literacy and writing across the wider curriculum allows for transference and practise of skills taught.
Within in each unit of work prior learning is checked and adjustments made if needed. Our units are rooted in the National Curriculum Objectives and are taught through a combination of approaches/opportunities e.g:
· Opportunities to participate in drama & spoken language activities
· Exploring the features of different text types and modelled examples
· Handwriting practise
· Vocabulary practise
. Grammar practise
· Shared writing (modelled expectations)
· Embedded and discrete Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar lessons
· Independent writing
· Planning, drafting, editing, proof-reading and presenting
Punctuation, Grammar and Spelling
Punctuation, grammar and spelling is taught sequentially and is carefully mapped across EYFS, KS1, LKS2 & UKS2. Classes receive 1x SPaG lesson per week. Opportunities to teach SPaG are embedded within writing units and are identified in Medium Term planning but are also taught discreetly when needed. At KS1 and KS2 spelling is taught following the ‘No Nonsense Spelling’ programme, but opportunities to revisit commonly misspelt words and subject specific vocabulary are also embraced.
Handwriting
It is paramount that children are rigorously taught correct letter and number formation from the very beginning of their time in school. During EYFS the children are taught to sit properly in order to have the correct posture for writing, hold a pencil in the correct position and develop a legible handwriting style. Children are taught handwriting 1x a week. (Please see the handwriting policy for Eastgate Academy which lists the handwriting in further detail). Teachers are expected to model the school’s handwriting style when marking children’s work, writing on the board and on displays around the school.
Impact
Teachers use assessment as an integral part of the teaching and learning process and link it clearly to adjusted and future planning. Teachers mark work with a colour system and provide ‘on the spot’ verbal feedback so that children know how they are doing and how to improve. Attainment in Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is measured using using statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 and 2. Additionally, we track our own Spelling
attainment through the use of termly PIXL tests from Y1 -Y6. Writing as a whole is assessed through teacher assessment and this is also tracked termly onto PIXL from Y1 – Y6.
At Eastgate Academy we aim that our children have the knowledge and skills to be able to write successfully for a purpose and audience. We aim to ensure that they are confident writers able increase in resilience, independence and the ability to express their ideas, feelings and understanding through a love of the written word.