Writing
Dane Royd Writers
Imagine, Create, Share
Welcome to our writing page!
I am Mrs Greenwood and I am the Writing Leader in school.
I have always enjoyed writing as it is an outlet of creativity for me. I studied English Literature and Creative Writing at University and I am very passionate about the benefits writing can have for young people. I love teaching Writing at Dane Royd and hope to instil in our students a love for this subject.
Mrs Greenwood
Writing Lead
Intent - What do we want for our children in writing?
At Dane Royd Junior and Infant School, we believe that writing is a crucial part of the curriculum and is fundamental to children’s educational success. We want our children to be confident, capable writers, who understand the value of English to them throughout their education and in their future.
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We want all of our children to be inspired to write and to be able to communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions through their writing. To do this they need to be able to write clearly, accurately and coherently, and to be able to manipulate their vocabulary and grammar choices appropriately depending on the context, purpose or audience.
We aim to instil a love of literature in all of our pupils and in Writing lessons, children are exposed to high quality, diverse children’s literature by significant authors. We use a book-based approach to engage children to write with a clear audience and purpose.
In addition to this, our children will explore spelling patterns and rules, and will be taught how to use a dictionary independently to check the spelling of ambitious words.
We believe that presentation is an important aspect of writing – if the children show pride in their work, high-quality content is reflected, therefore we ensure correct letter formation and handwriting are a focus in each year group.
All in all, we plan to ensure that the children at Dane Royd receive a well-rounded English curriculum, which stands them in good stead for their future adult life.
Implement - How will we achieve this?
At Dane Royd, we want our children to be confident, capable writers, who are inspired to write and engaged in our writing curriculum. Writing lessons are taught daily in each class and are taught by the class teacher.
At Dane Royd Junior and Infants School, we adopt a book-based approach in the delivery of our writing curriculum. From Years 1-6, we teach Writing by following the Literacy Tree scheme. This scheme immerses children in a literary world, therefore creating strong levels of engagement to provide meaningful and authentic contexts for children.
Children become critical readers and acquire an authorial style as they encounter a wide-range of significant authors and a variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
Punctuation and Grammar
Punctuation and grammar skills are taught explicitly each week, as well as being woven into the writing lessons, in order to ensure that the children are applying their punctuation and grammar skills appropriately. Punctuation and grammar skills are taught in a logical, progressive sequence within each year group. Teachers use the punctuation and grammar progression map as a tool to plan for weekly stand-alone Punctuation and Grammar lessons.
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Handwriting
Transcription skills need to be secure in order for our pupils to be able to write creatively. As such, fluent transcription skills are a focus for Early Years and Year 1. Handwriting is taught daily in KS1, LKS2, and for those who need it in UKS2. With repeated practise in handwriting we aim for children to become fluent in this skill.
Children with SEND
Children with SEND are given appropriate support and scaffolding within writing lessons to enable them to reach their potential and achieve the writing objectives that they are working on. Children who would benefit from extra support in-order to reach their full potential will also take part in interventions.
See below for SEND provision for Writing:​
At Dane Royd we promote the importance of written work and enable children to see themselves as authors and poets, by displaying good examples of writing in every classroom and on corridor displays. Also, children have the opportunity to read their creative writing out loud, in front of an audience and in class assemblies. In addition to this, throughout the school year the children are given a context to their learning by being provided with exciting opportunities such as entering local and national writing competitions. We strongly believe that opportunities like this improve children’s learning.
Assessment
Children’s writing is assessed half termly by teachers to determine where a child is working in relation to their year group’s writing objectives or whether the child is working at a Pre-Key Stage Standard. The English Subject Leaders provide guidance and CPD for staff around the assessment and moderation of writing at half termly moderation staff meetings. Teachers attend external cross district moderation throughout the year to ensure judgements are accurate. These sessions include CPD to ensure that our teachers are gaining a deeper understanding of the moderation processes.
Impact - What difference will it make to our children?
Our children are creative writers, who are inspired to write and are provided with the tools that they need to develop the stamina and ability to write at and exceed the age-related standard. Children leave Dane Royd ready to succeed at the KS3 Writing curriculum as evidenced in the school’s statutory assessment results.
I like writing because I can use my imagination and write about how I feel.
- Samuel, Year 2
Writing lessons are really fun! I love watching short films to inspire what I write.
- Poppy, Year 3
I love writing because I love how creative it lets me be!
- Lucy, Year 5
Want to help at home?
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Get talking - getting children to express themselves in conversation is fantastic practice for expressing themselves in writing. Conversation allows children to learn new ideas, vocabulary and grammar. After trying out new language while talking, children are better prepared to use it in their writing.
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Read aloud to your child whatever their age. Reading to your child exposes them to new vocabulary, ideas and worlds which will transform their writing.
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Provide opportunities for your child to practise their spellings when they are sent home each week.
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Find opportunities for your child to write for different purposes, for example, a letter or email to grandparents, shopping lists, recipes, little notes, greeting cards, making little books and stories and keeping a diary.
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Celebrate your child’s work and achievements at every possible chance. Promote taking pride in their work.
Recommended Books
