Writing Curriculum statement

Intent:

The intent within writing is for all children to have the skills and confidence to write for a range of purposes across genres. They should develop a passion for writing while using a broad range of vocabulary and applying strong Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS) skills within their work. Carefully mapped year group progression, supports cognitive load while developing their long-term memory. Units of work move through imitation to innovation to independent application; adapted to suit the needs of learners at all stages. Rich texts and high-quality models are carefully selected with every child in mind.

Implementation:

Children are inspired to write through engaging starts, inspiring hooks and immersion in a text. Opportunities to write at length are planned into each unit of work to build stamina and enable children to explore their understanding and imagination. Children are encouraged to experiment with language, building on high-quality models of literacy. Scaffolding is provided in a variety of ways, including an agreed planning format, unit-specific vocabulary mats and bespoke visuals, technology or scaffolds where needed.

Children learn to reflect on and improve their writing. This is supported by high quality feedback, including marking and writing conferencing. They share writing with peers and develop editing skills to improve their work.  Targets for success provide direction and clear focus while increasing the writer’s skill set; these are adapted to suit the needs of all learners and offer the individualisation required to succeed. Children write with purpose, publishing work while focussing on presentation and handwriting.

Where possible, Grammar is embedded in units of work. Units based around whole texts inspire a high level of engagement while ensuring the children understand and use the key elements to write successfully across a range of texts and genres.

Impact:

Children write to a high quality across a range of different genres and for a variety of purposes, including across the curriculum. Stimulating units spark creativity and develop a flair and love of writing. Correct grammatical language is used across all year groups and within work produced. Children are enthusiastic and confident when talking about their work and can provide constructive feedback to their peers. Children acquire an expansive skill set which ensures they are well-equipped for the next stage of their education.

Reading Curriculum statement

Intent:

The intent within all reading lessons and approaches is to promote a love for reading for every child. Through comprehensive exposure to high quality texts, children experience rich language broadening their vocabulary and understanding of the wider world; this provides access to future educational opportunities. Systematic teaching ensures all children can fluently decode and understand age-appropriate texts.  We develop the children’s understanding of the text, which inspires them to build their comprehension, discuss their ideas and form opinions. This provides individuals with essential key life skills

Implementation:

Children are exposed to a wide range of texts through individual readers, use of school library, explicit reading lessons, use of high quality texts across the curriculum. The curriculum is language rich and opportunities to read individually, paired or within groups are maximised.

Reading lessons include a balance of carefully chosen whole-class texts, studied over a number of weeks, and shorter topical texts that support the children to make links across the breadth of the curriculum. Fluency is explicitly taught through year group with appropriate grammar and modelled and guided rehearsal to bridge systematic decoding to comprehensive understanding. Children develop a comprehensive set of fundamental reading skills to apply and continually mature across the curriculum. Assessment and systematic tracking ensure early identification and access to targeted provision to secure phonological awareness, confident decoding, fluency and a high level of comprehension.

Impact:

Children read widely and with confidence. They have full access to a broad curriculum and are continually developing a rich vocabulary which they use within their speaking and writing. Children can discuss texts in depth. Reading is evident within children’s writing through their choice of vocabulary and differing writing techniques. Children can access the full curriculum and are well-prepared for the next stage of their education. Over time, the children develop a strong skill set to answer a lexicon of questions, access texts with a deeper understanding and foster a lifelong love of reading.