Holwell Primary School
Writing
Writing is taught daily at Holwell Primary School for approx. 1 hour. A clearly sequenced genre map has been designed to ensure that children have exposure to a variety of different text types each year. Each genre unit is taught following a clear sequence of lessons which is known as 'Phases of Writing'.
Phases of Writing
- Read and analyse a WAGOLL.
- Identify genre features
- Magpie sentence structure and vocabulary
- Learn skills and techniques from text type
- Plan, draft and edit own writing in style of text type
- Publish our own writing in style of the text type
A WAGOLL is created based on the stimulus text and supports pupils to identify and mimic the identified features in their own writing. Non-fiction units are also taught through a quality WAGOLL that may be based on a stimulus text or may be related to another curriculum area
W - What
A - A
G - Good
O - One
L - Looks
L – Like
Grammar and punctuation knowledge and skills are taught through English lessons as much as possible. Teachers plan to teach the required skills through the genres of writing that they are teaching, linking it to the genre to make it more connected with the intended writing outcome.
Teachers sometimes focus on particular grammar and punctuation skills as standalone lessons, if they feel that the class need additional lessons to embed and develop their understanding or to consolidate skills
Spelling is taught alongside handwriting. Spellings are taught according to the rules and words contained in Appendix 1 of the English National Curriculum. Children are given spellings to learn each week and are given a spelling test the following week. Spelling rules are taught weekly to embed learning. Interventions are given to children identified with gaps in their learning. The skills taught in previous years are revised to strengthen previous learning and
build on the children’s confidence to enhance their independence in writing.
Please visit our 'How to help your child learn phonics' page to find out more about how we teach early reading and phonics.
Click on the links below to read useful information about how we teach writing at Holwell Primary School.
An example of a Long Term Plan Spring B 2022
What is the 'Expected Standard' (EXS)?
Click here to find out more about the expectations in writing across the year groups.
Handwriting
We also have a clear handwriting policy which has a clear progression through the school. We follow the font "Letter Join" which moves from a pre-cursive font in Reception and Year 1 to cursive font in Year 2 and then finally to a cursive with lead-ins in Key Stage 2.
Our policy can be accessed below which also gives examples of the handwriting style.