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English Writing

 

Intent 

At Alkerden, we believe writing is a powerful means for learners to articulate their thoughts, express their creativity, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. Our writing curriculum is designed to help every learner develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to become an effective, creative and independent writer.  

  • Build strong competence in transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (structure, vocabulary, clarity, purpose)  

  • Help learners to plan, revise and evaluate their writing, equipping them with strategies to organise ideas and adapt writing for different audiences and purposes.  

  • Develop a rich and varied vocabulary, an awareness of grammar and punctuation, and the ability to choose language deliberately for effect.  

  • Foster creativity and imagination, encouraging learners to write in a variety of genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scripts, reports, persuasive writing, etc.) to reflect and explore the world inside and outside school.  

  • Encourage learners to view writing as a skill for life, not just for school, nurturing a life-long confidence and enjoyment in writing, for communication, expression and creativity.  

 

Implementation 

 

  • Writing is taught through meaningful, engaging contexts: themes, topics and stimuli (texts, images, drama, experiences) are carefully chosen to inspire learners and support rich writing outcomes.  

  • We adapt and differentiate to meet the needs of all learners: those who need extra support receive targeted intervention; more able or confident learners are challenged with richer tasks, ambitious vocabulary and more complex genres.  

  • Writing opportunities are not confined to English lessons: learners are encouraged to write across the curriculum, in history, science, topic work, reflections, to build writing stamina, purpose and transferability of skills.  

  • We encourage oracy and spoken language alongside writing: learners have opportunities to discuss ideas, rehearse language, role-play, present and perform, building their confidence in spoken and written expression.  

  • Handwriting is taught rigorously from the earliest stage so that learners develop legible, fluent and (where appropriate) speedy handwriting.  

  • Grammar and punctuation are taught both in context and through discrete teaching, so learners understand how to use language correctly and with impact.  

  • Spelling is developed systematically: building on phonics/letter–sound knowledge, then expanding to spelling patterns, common exception words, and strategies for spelling unfamiliar words.  

  • We build writing skills progressively. At each stage, learners are taught to plan, draft, revise and edit writing, through shared writing, guided writing, and independent writing, supported by modelling, scaffolding and peer or teacher feedback.  

Impact 

By the time learners leave Alkerden, our writing curriculum ensures they: 

  • Have a secure command of written language: spelling, grammar, punctuation, handwriting, enabling them to write with clarity, accuracy and confidence. 

  • Can compose for a wide variety of purposes and audiences, using appropriate style, structure, vocabulary and tone, whether writing stories, reports, letters, explanations, scripts or poetry. 

  • Think and reflect like writers: plan their writing, draft, revise and edit, improving their work, adapting ideas and refining expression independently. 

  • Demonstrate creativity, imagination and a strong sense of identity and voice in their writing. 

  • View writing as a meaningful, enjoyable, and lifelong skill, not just as a school subject, but as a tool for communication, expression and possibility. 

  • Are well-prepared for the writing demands of secondary school and beyond, confident in their writing, flexible in their style, and capable of a wide writing “toolkit.” 

Assessment data, teacher observations and work-scrutiny show that learners make steady and sustained progress across the school. Those requiring targeted support catch up quickly, while others extend beyond expected standards. The writing culture at Alkerden is one of pride, creativity and ambition, where learners see themselves as writers, and value writing as a personal and academic strength. 

 

English Writing Across the Stages 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

  • In EYFS, learners start to understand print, letter formation and mark-making. Through play-based and adult-led activities, they begin to explore writing, enjoy drawing and early mark-making, and learn that print carries meaning.  

  • Early phonics and fine motor skills are integrated so that learners begin forming letters confidently; they practise mark-making, simple words, and begin to write simple captions, labels and words as they are ready.  

  • Opportunities are provided to express themselves verbally, building spoken language that supports later writing development.  

Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) 

  • Learners continue to build on phonics knowledge and letter–sound correspondence, developing secure spelling and handwriting foundations.  

  • They are supported to orally compose sentences, discuss ideas, plan writing (using drawing, keywords, simple notes), then write short texts. As confidence grows, they structure sentences clearly with basic punctuation (capital letters, full stops, question marks, exclamation marks).  

  • A variety of writing opportunities: stories (real or imaginary), labels, captions, lists, simple reports, instructions, poems, enabling learners to explore different purposes, contexts and audiences. 

Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6) 

  • Learners plan writing carefully: using planning structures (mind-maps, story-mountains, notes), identifying audience, purpose and structure (paragraphs, headings, introductions/conclusions), preparing them for longer and more complex writing.  

  • As their skills develop, they learn to vary sentence structure (simple, compound, complex), use ambitious vocabulary, use punctuation and grammar correctly and with effect, and adapt style for different genres and audiences (narrative, explanation, persuasion, biography, reports, poetry, scripts, etc.)  

  • Writing is iterative: drafting, reviewing, editing, revising, learners reflect on their work, use feedback, improve vocabulary/structure/grammar, and learn to present their writing neatly and with pride.  

  • Across a broad range of genres: fiction (fantasy, myth, historical, realistic), non-fiction (explanations, reports, persuasive pieces), poetry, scripts, letters, giving learners a full writing diet and enabling them to choose appropriate style, tone and structure depending on purpose and audience.  

  • Cross-curricular writing is encouraged. Writing linked to other subjects (history, science, RE, topic work) helps learners practise writing for real purposes, deepen understanding, and apply writing skills broadly.  

Inclusion & Support 

At Alkerden we recognise that each learner is unique. To support this: 

  • Learners who need extra help receive targeted support: small-group or one-to-one assistance, phonics/spelling interventions, additional guided writing or editing sessions, ensuring all have access to writing success.  

  • More able or confident writers are given challenges, richer vocabulary tasks, ambitious genres, creative writing opportunities, so they can extend their skills and creativity.  

  • Writing support is flexible and responsive: teachers monitor progress continuously, identify gaps, adapt planning and provide feedback or intervention as needed.  

Extra Resources

 

Fun English Writing Games