Burnley Road Academy Writing

Statement of intent:

At Burnley Road Academy, we intend our pupils to become confident, independent writers, who develop increasing stamina for writing throughout their school lives. We ensure the children have access to a range of high quality texts as models for writing and understand the purpose and audience for each text type. By the end of their time with us, we intend our children to have the ability to carefully select vocabulary and punctuation, with attention to the desired effect on the readers’ thoughts and feelings. We have high expectations for our children and intend them to take pride in everything they produce.

In line with our academy values, children are encouraged to show courage and take risks with their writing by using ambitious vocabulary and punctuation. We intend them to develop perseverance with writing, developing stamina and viewing any mistakes as another part of the learning process. Children are given opportunities to show compassion through their writing and work as members of a team when creating shared pieces of work. 

Burnley Road Academy: 

Understands that a strong grounding in writing will impact the future learning and development of a pupil and help prepare them for life in modern society.

Provides a broad and balanced writing curriculum, which encompasses creative writing, writing for different styles, purposes, and audiences, handwriting, use of grammar and punctuation, spelling and widening vocabulary. Writing opportunities are provided across the curriculum.  

Ensures that teachers are aware of the teaching, learning and assessment requirements for the writing  curriculum. 

Ensures that pupils know how to plan, produce and evaluate their work as well as how to carry out an effective editing and improvement process. 

Implementation:

English lessons take place every day incorporating the development of writing. We use a variety of resources as stimuli, including Power of Reading and the Hamilton units of work. Learning can be based on books, other texts, videos, real life events, images, or lyrics from a song. The aim is to use resources which inspire enthusiasm for writing, linking with cross-curricular topics whenever possible. When appropriate, grammar and spelling are included within units of work but are often taught as ‘stand alone’ subjects using specific resources e.g. Nelson text books, Head Start books and the online resource Spelling Shed.

Within a typical week, teachers plan appropriate time to teach all aspects of writing – composition, grammar, handwriting and spelling. The proportion of time given to each element is dependant on the unit and the needs of the children at that point.

Impact:

By the end of Year Six children will be able to write clearly and accurately and adapt their writing for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. Our pupils will acquire a wide vocabulary and use it appropriately within context.

Writing standards in Foundation Stage and Ks1 are in line with national standards and writing at Ks2 is improving. Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling is line with national expectations and children are able to write for a range of purposes. Writing is a current priority in school; stamina and handwriting are being developed and cross curricular opportunities are regularly used to extend opportunities for writing.

‘It is the essential knowledge that pupils need to be educated citizens, introducing them to the best that has been thought and said and helping to engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.’

Ofsted School Inspection Handbook 2019

Our writing curriculum incorporates all aspects of the writing process: phonics, spelling, handwriting, grammar, punctution, composition and editing. Children write for a range of purposes and their work is regularly stimulated by the use of great children's books. We take part in visits (or virtual visits) with popular children's authors - they share how they get ideas and develop different aspects of their books e.g. characters. We ensure children take part in interesting experiences e.g. trips, investigations and Forest Activities to stimulate their own ideas for writing.