Writing

We believe that every child should leave Manorfield Primary School being able to communicate effectively through writing in a wide range of contexts.

How we teach writing

Children have opportunities to write daily for a range of different audiences and purposes.
Shared Writing – There should be weekly opportunities for whole class shared writing.
Big Writing – Once per week, the week’s teaching should culminate in a ‘Big Write’ with children demonstrating the writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and handwriting learning from the week.
Writing Journeys – Each child in the school has a hard back, lined ‘Writing Journey’ book. There should be a piece of writing in the Writing Journey at the end of every term (6 pieces per year) from the start of Nursery to the end of Year 6. The Writing Journey book travels with the children through the whole school, demonstrating the child’s progress in writing.

Handwriting

We follow the Tower Hamlets letter formation scheme which is developed into cursive writing in Key Stage 2.

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

Spelling

From EYFS – Year 1, spelling is taught daily through phonics
In Year 2, spelling is taught through phonics in Autumn Term. Once they have got to the end of the phonics scheme, Y2 will have regular Spelling lessons from the No-nonsense spelling scheme. This is linked into our Tower Hamlets writing scheme.
In years 3-6, spelling is taught for an hour each week. There should be a 20 minute directly taught lesson each week, followed by other activities spread across English starters, plenaries, reflections time, homework and further discrete spelling sessions.
Shared writing is used as an opportunity for teachers to model and discuss spelling strategies
A detailed spelling programme (No-Nonsense Spelling) is provided for every year group which outlines specific rules to be taught.

Punctuation and grammar

• Punctuation and grammar are taught progressively using our Tower Hamlets writing scheme.

Progression in Writing