Writing
Here at Elworth, the writing curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all children. It provides opportunities for children to develop as independent, confident and successful writers, with high aspirations, who know how to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider society.
Our intent is for all pupils – irrespective of their needs, abilities or background – to learn to write fluently, developing their own writer’s voice. We aim to meet, and where possible exceed, the expectations laid out in the Early Learning Goals and National Curriculum, with pupils progressing appropriately across school. We recognise that spoken language underpins the development of Writing. The quality of language that pupils hear and speak is vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding Writing. We believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge-base in Literacy, which follows a clear pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum. We believe that a secure basis in literacy skills is crucial to a high quality education and will give our children the tools they need to participate fully as a member of society.
We cultivate a love of Writing and communicating through vocabulary rich and high quality literature, using Ready Steady Write by Literacy Counts. By inspiring and developing an appreciation of our rich and varied literary heritage and providing meaningful and exciting provocations to write, we develop a habit of writing widely and often. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture where children take pride in their Writing; can write clearly and accurately and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts.
Spelling
Children are encouraged to become confident spellers, applying phonic knowledge to their written work from an early age. Phonics application stations, visual resources and verbal feedback are used throughout Key Stage 1 to encourage children to apply their phonics knowledge to their written work. As children enter Key Stage 2, the focus on spelling increases and children are encouraged to develop confidence in spelling, using strategies to break down words and have a go at increasingly complex spellings. Children are taught patterns and application both discretely and as part of their writing process. Homework aims to support children in this process; we subscribe to online games such as Spelling Shed to practise and apply spelling patterns.
To learn more about Spelling Shed, click on the link below:
https://www.spellingshed.com/en-gb/index.html