Writing 

At Homefield, our school vision of ‘Curious Minds, Open Hearts & Joy of Learning’ is central to our approach to writing. We cultivate a joy for writing by fostering mastery of skills that prioritise stage over age, ensuring that every pupil progresses at their own pace.

We recognise the importance of oracy in developing confident writers; our English curriculum includes a diverse range of high-quality texts and experiences that are relevant, meaningful, and enjoyable. These elements inspire children to write with creativity and ownership.

Our aim is for all pupils to leave Homefield as confident writers who take pride in their presentation. By encouraging exploration and self-expression, we ensure that writing is not only a skill but also a source of joy and personal achievement for every child.

 

Our Writing Curriculum

In EYFS, children have a range of daily writing opportunities, including mark making offered through provision both indoors and outdoors linked to key texts and pupil interest. Dough Disco and Scribble It sessions in Nursery develop fine and gross motor skills, whilst key texts support language, vocabulary and promote a love of stories. Children begin letter formation and name writing when developmentally ready in Nursery.

Children in Reception have daily FFT Phonics sessions where they write the new GPC and correct letter formation is supported. Drawing Club is introduced, where the joy of stories and vocabulary is shared as a class. The ‘inventuring’ stage of the lesson follows this, where pupils allow their creativity to inspire drawings and writing, appropriate to their stage of development.

Drawing Club continues into the first term of year 1 to support transition.  Year 1 children take part in small group sessions which ensure that phonics, spelling, grammar and punctuation are gradually developed through children’s writing.

Drawing Club Lesson Structure

Writing is taught through daily Curious Quest sessions from Autumn Term 2 in Year 1, Year 2 and 3. This approach immerses children into key texts where vocabulary is explored and pupils are given the opportunity to engage with the text creatively inspiring their writing. Within the Key Stage 1 classrooms there are inspiring, appropriately resourced, open-ended writing opportunities accessible at all times as part of our continuous provision.

Curious Quest Lesson Structure

For more information about Curious Quests, Drawing Club & Scribble It, follow this link:

https://www.canigoandplaynow.com/

Children from Year 4 -6 take part in daily writing sessions that follow the CUSP curriculum, which has been carefully tailored to inspire our children with their writing. All writing sequences are planned to take 2–3 weeks to ensure that writing is of a high quality and to ensure children are taught the range of skills needed for the specific writing genre, as well as giving them time to practice and apply these new skills both verbally and in writing.

These lessons are taught in six steps. In each session, you could expect to see…