Writing at Homerswood
The overarching aims of the writing curriculum at Homerswood Primary and Nursery School are to develop fluent, imaginative writers who can apply their writing skills to a wealth of genres and subjects. At Homerswood, we provide our pupils with many opportunities to develop and employ their writing skills across the curriculum so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions effectively to others.
Our aim is that pupils leave our school able to plan, revise, edit and evaluate their writing to produce quality pieces of work across the curriculum. To do this effectively, pupils will focus on developing effective transcription (spelling and handwriting) and effective composition (articulating and structuring ideas into speech and writing). They will also develop an awareness of the audience, purpose and context as well as an increasingly wide knowledge of grammar and ambitious vocabulary. We know and promote the value of an excellent, wide vocabulary and this is developed and practised across our curriculum. Opportunities to enhance pupils’ vocabulary arise naturally from their reading and writing. As vocabulary increases, pupils are taught how to understand the relationships between words, how to understand nuances in meaning, and how to develop their understanding of, and ability to use, figurative language. Our pupils acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
Effective composition also depends on pupils being able to articulate their ideas verbally prior to writing. We teach our pupils to speak clearly, to express their ideas fluently and confidently and to substantiate their ideas by asking probing questions to develop critical thinking. This ensures that they are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate as well as having a well-rounded understanding on which to base their writing. Writing also depends on fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting. Spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation are key parts of the writing process and are taught in each year group to ensure that pupils have all the necessary skills in Standard English to control their speaking and writing consciously to be successful writers.
Progression of writing skills is mapped across the school so that pupils develop key spelling and grammatical skills as well as expanding their range of reading material and knowledge of writing purposes throughout their time at Homerswood.