Writing
At Homefield CE VC Primary, our Writing curriculum follows the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum in England.
In Key Stage 1 and 2, we teach Writing using the Unity Schools Partnership Curriculum for Literacy (CUSP).
This is a highly ambitious, carefully considered curriculum that is firmly rooted in evidence-informed principles. It carefully maps out core content in Writing across the Primary years, ensuring that key learning is taught progressively, revisited, consolidated and embedded over time. Where appropriate, the Writing curriculum links closely with the wider CUSP curriculum, ensuring that vital links are made between subjects; enhancing and deepening pupils’ learning experiences and improving conceptual fluency.
CUSP Writing
CUSP writing is a “reduce and revisit” model of writing where pupils draw on prior learning to focus on the “how” of writing. Each writing unit is expertly designed to allow for the explicit teaching, modelling and rehearsing of core knowledge and skills prior to pupils then applying these through extended writing. This includes the direct, explicit teaching of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS) in every writing lesson.
Implementation
Modules are deliberately sequenced for robust progression and allow teachers to focus on the explicit teaching of key skills and knowledge. Each genre is visited twice every year to allow for consolidation, deepening understanding and retrieval of grammar foci and text conventions. Furthermore, the same genres are revisited across key stages which allows pupils to deepen their understanding of key text conventions. This allows for learning, vocabulary and content to be cumulative; content is learned, retrieved and built upon.
Moreover, each writing unit in the CUSP curriculum is expertly designed to allow for the explicit teaching, modelling and rehearsing of core knowledge and skills prior to pupils then applying these through extended writing. This includes the direct, explicit teaching of Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS) in every writing lesson.
Unit Sequence
Each unit follows the same process to ensure pupils can focus on the “what” of learning, rather than the “how”.
The units include:
1. Revisit of prior learning
2. Explicit vocabulary instruction (including morphology, etymology and meaning)
3. Worked examples of the key skills in the form of a model text
4. Explicit teaching of grammar which often includes “my turn, our turn, your turn” writing
5. Oral rehearsal
6. Planning, drafting, editing and polishing of independently written pieces
Long Term Writing Overview (sequenced)
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Autumn Term |
Spring Term |
Summer Term |
Year 1 |
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Year 2 |
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Year 3 |
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Year 4 |
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Year 5 |
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Year 6 |
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Key Block A (initial block for genre) Block B (revisit of genre)