Writing at Elloughton Primary School
Where children are inspired to be writers
The Power of Writing
At Elloughton Primary School, we aim to develop confident writers who can communicate their ideas clearly and effectively. Writing allows pupils to express their thoughts, share their experiences and demonstrate their understanding across the curriculum.
Our writing curriculum is carefully designed and developed to ensure pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to write with increasing accuracy, creativity and independence.
At Elloughton Primary School, we aim to develop confident writers who can communicate their ideas clearly and effectively. Writing allows pupils to express their thoughts, share their experiences and demonstrate their understanding across the curriculum.
Our writing curriculum is carefully designed and developed to ensure pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to write with increasing accuracy, creativity and independence.
Our Intent
We believe that all children can become confident writers. Our aim is for pupils to develop strong transcription skills, secure grammar and punctuation knowledge, and the ability to write for a range of purposes and audiences.
Through our writing curriculum, pupils learn to: articulate ideas clearly write with accuracy and fluency adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences develop creativity and imagination through language Our writing curriculum is built on the principle that pupils must first secure the foundational skills of transcription before developing extended composition.
As pupils progress through the school, they build fluency in handwriting, spelling and sentence construction, enabling them to focus increasingly on developing ideas, structure and authorial voice. By the time pupils leave Elloughton Primary School, they are confident writers who can plan, draft, edit and improve their work independently.
Foundations for Writing in the Early Years
Strong writing begins with strong foundational skills. In the Early Years, children develop the physical, communication and language skills needed for writing before formal writing begins. Children develop: fine motor strength and control correct pencil grip hand and finger coordination early mark making and drawing spoken language and storytelling
Activities such as drawing, tracing, threading, cutting and manipulating small objects help children build the muscle strength needed for writing. Teachers carefully support pupils in developing correct pencil grip and letter formation, ensuring that children develop good habits from the start of their writing journey.
As children develop their phonics knowledge, they begin writing: initial sounds simple words captions simple sentences These early experiences provide the foundations for successful writing as pupils move through the school.
Writing in Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, pupils develop strong transcription skills, including spelling, handwriting and sentence construction.
Teaching focuses on:
secure letter formation
correct pencil grip and handwriting development
spelling through phonics knowledge
orally rehearsing ideas before writing
building simple sentences using Colourful Semantics
Teachers use carefully chosen texts and images to inspire writing and help pupils develop their ideas.
Writing in Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, pupils build on their early writing skills and begin to write in a wider range of genres. Each unit of writing is based on high-quality texts, allowing pupils to explore language, structure and authorial techniques.
The writing process includes:
exploring the model text
developing vocabulary and ideas learning and applying new skills
planning and drafting
writing editing and improving work
publishing final pieces
Pupils apply their writing skills across the wider curriculum.
Oracy and Writing
Speaking and listening play an important role in developing writing skills. Pupils regularly discuss ideas, rehearse sentences and explore vocabulary before writing. This approach helps pupils organise their thoughts and develop confidence when expressing their ideas in writing.
Supporting All Learners
At Elloughton Primary School, we recognise that pupils develop as writers at different rates and may require different levels of support or challenge.
Teachers use a range of strategies to ensure that all pupils can access the writing curriculum and make strong progress. This may include carefully scaffolded tasks, additional adult support, targeted interventions or adapted resources to help pupils develop their writing skills with confidence. Pupils who need additional support are carefully guided through the writing process, with opportunities to rehearse ideas orally, build vocabulary and practise key skills before writing independently.
At the same time, pupils who demonstrate strong writing ability are provided with opportunities to deepen their thinking, refine their authorial voice and experiment with more complex language and structures. Through this inclusive approach, we aim to ensure that every pupil is supported and challenged to develop as a confident and successful writer.
