Writing

Writing Co-ordinator: Mrs Grace Porter

Intent

At St. Peter’s, we view writing as a creative journey that nurtures a love for language, storytelling and self-expression. Our vision is to inspire confident, skilled writers who find joy in expressing themselves and communicating effectively. To achieve this, we use Literacy Shed +, a resource that brings learning to life through captivating visual prompts, short films and thematic units. This approach not only sparks imagination but also builds critical thinking, narrative structure and vocabulary skills.

Additionally, we place a strong emphasis on oracy in our English lessons, recognising that spoken language is a foundational skill that supports every aspect of learning. Oracy helps children articulate their thoughts, engage in meaningful discussions and develop social and emotional skills. Through collaborative activities and guided discussions, we aim to empower children to become articulate, thoughtful communicators.

Another integral component of our writing curriculum is the development of handwriting skills. We use the Letterjoin handwriting scheme, which provides a structured and consistent approach to developing neat, fluent and legible handwriting. This ensures children can confidently present their ideas with pride and precision.

Implementation

Our writing curriculum is designed to inspire and support children at every level:

• Engaging Resources: We use Literacy Shed + for writing lessons. Each unit includes flexible plans featuring high-quality texts, captivating visual prompts, short films and thematic units. These resources encourage storytelling, narrative structure and vocabulary building while fostering critical thinking and creativity.

• Interactive Spelling and Grammar: To complement our writing lessons, we incorporate Spelling Shed for spelling and grammar. As well as a whole school spelling curriculum, this also provides an interactive, game-based tool reinforcing key spelling patterns and grammatical concepts in a fun and engaging way.

• Focus on Oracy: Oracy is woven into all aspects of our English curriculum. Through collaborative activities and guided group discussions, children practice articulating their thoughts, listening actively, and respecting others' perspectives. These activities are carefully designed to align with and enhance the written and verbal storytelling skills developed in Literacy Shed + lessons.

• Integrated Approach: By integrating oracy skills into writing and English lessons, children strengthen their verbal and written communication simultaneously. They use rich language and expressive communication to enhance both their storytelling and their ability to articulate thoughts confidently in speech.

• Handwriting: Handwriting is a vital aspect of written communication, we use the Letterjoin handwriting scheme to support this. The scheme provides clear progression for developing neat and consistent handwriting through fun, interactive resources. This includes animations, practice worksheets and targeted exercises to ensure children master cursive script.

Impact

Our integrated approach to writing, spelling, grammar, and oracy fosters well-rounded communicators who are equipped with the skills to thrive in both school and life. By the end of their time with us:

• Children develop a love for writing and storytelling, becoming confident in expressing themselves creatively and effectively.

• They build a strong foundation in spelling and grammar, which supports accurate and fluent written communication.

• Through the Letterjoin handwriting scheme, children develop neat, fluent and legible handwriting, enabling them to present their ideas with confidence and pride.

• Their oracy skills empower them to speak fluently, confidently and articulately, enabling them to engage meaningfully in discussions and express their ideas with clarity.

• Children leave our school with the tools to think critically, communicate thoughtfully, and collaborate effectively, ready to succeed in all areas of learning and beyond.