Our Approach to Writing
Writing at Sandiway Primary School
At Sandiway Primary School we plan learning using our English curriculum texts as a driver. We follow The Literacy Company’s ‘Pathways to Write’ from EYFS to Year 6.
How we Teach Writing
We use Pathways to Write to drive our writing curriculum. This aligns with Pathways to Read ensuring meaningful links for our pupils with texts that are used across Literacy, Humanities and Science.
Children learn about the purpose, structure and language features of a variety of writing genres. The teaching of writing and use of compositional skills are grounded in a rich experience of reading and reflecting on quality written texts. The texts are often used as models for writing. When appropriate, cross-curricular links are made.
Children are given regular opportunities for telling, retelling and refining texts as a preparation for writing. We encourage the process of planning, saying, writing, checking and editing writing.
Planned teaching sequences include shared, guided and independent writing. We prepare children for the transition from shared to independent writing by use of teacher demonstrations-‘modelling’ writing, teacher scribing and supported composition.
Extended writing opportunities are regularly planned for across the curriculum. This encourages the children to be creative and flexible with their writing skills, applying what has previously been taught; e.g. writing a narrative set in Ancient Egypt or writing an explanation of how a volcano erupts.
Writing in the EYFS
The skilled staff in EYFS provide many exciting writing opportunities for the children, both focused sessions and through continuous provision. They follow the Pathways planning when it is appropriate and grips the children’s interests, if texts are changed the objectives (Pathway’s Keys) for each unit are followed to maintain progression. Children are given a range of opportunities to create and use print in a meaningful way. As children develop their knowledge of phonics and Harder to Read and Spell words this is quickly transferred into their independent writing.
Fantastic writing from EYFS |
Pathways to Write: A Whole School Approach
Pathway's ensures coverage and progression through the National Curriculum:
- Mastery of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation skills
- Writing a range of genres across a year
- Vocabulary development
- Using a wider range of reading comprehension strategies as a whole class
- Spoken language activities including drama and presentations
- Opportunities for practising previously taught genres
- An extended, independent piece of writing
Our Writing Sequence
The Gateway:
The Pathway:
The Writeaway:
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High Expectations
High expectations are set for children’s written work. School has an agreed set of non-negotiables which children must try to adhere to. These areas are adapted to be specific and appropriate for each year group.
Our five Non-negotiables are:
- Presentation
- Handwriting
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Quality/Quantity/Effort
Webpage updated September 2023