Writing

Intent

At Walverden Primary School, we believe that every child has a story to tell and a voice worth hearing. From their very first marks in Nursery to becoming confident, independent writers in Year 6, we aim to foster a love of writing that lasts a lifetime. Our writing curriculum inspires children to communicate their ideas, experiences and imagination with confidence, helping them develop the skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.

Implementation

Writing is taught through a structured, engaging, text-led approach that immerses children in high-quality stories, rich vocabulary and meaningful writing opportunities.

• In EYFS and Key Stage 1, early writing is closely linked to our Read Write Inc. phonics programme, helping children to develop the skills they need to turn sounds into words and sentences. We place a strong emphasis on developing both gross and fine motor skills so that children are physically prepared for writing, while also learning correct letter formation from the very beginning.
• As children progress through Key Stage 2, they explore a wide range of exciting fiction and non-fiction texts. They learn how to plan, draft, edit and improve their writing, developing the confidence to write for different purposes and audiences.

Handwriting

Developing clear, fluent handwriting is an important part of our writing curriculum.

• In EYFS, we focus on building the foundations for writing through activities that strengthen children's gross and fine motor skills. When children are ready, they begin learning correct letter formation using our handwriting approach.
• In Key Stage 1, children take part in regular handwriting sessions where they develop consistency, letter formation and the skills needed for joined writing.
• Cursive handwriting is introduced as children become developmentally ready, supporting them to develop a fluent, joined and legible handwriting style.
• Grammar, punctuation and spelling are taught both through dedicated lessons and within meaningful writing activities, helping children understand how language works and how to use it effectively.

Impact

By the time children leave Walverden Primary School, they are confident writers who can communicate clearly, creatively and accurately. They understand how to adapt their writing for different audiences and purposes, take pride in their work and have the resilience to edit and improve it. Most importantly, they leave us with the skills, confidence and enthusiasm to continue their writing journey as they move on to secondary school and beyond.