Writing
Intent
At Brandesburton Primary School, we recognise that writing is a fundamental life skill. Our curriculum is designed to inspire, challenge, and motivate pupils to become confident, creative, and purposeful writers who can communicate effectively for a range of audiences and purposes.
We aim for pupils to:
- Develop a love of writing and see themselves as authors
- Write clearly, accurately, and coherently for a range of purposes
- Build stamina and resilience when writing at length
- Apply a secure understanding of grammar, punctuation, and spelling
Our carefully sequenced curriculum is based on the National Curriculum and ensures that pupils write across a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres. These are rooted in clear purposes: to entertain, inform, explain, persuade, and express ideas and feelings.
As pupils progress through the school, the complexity of writing increases. They revisit and refine key genres and skills, enabling them to build confidence, deepen understanding, and develop their individual writer’s voice.
Implementation
Early Writing (Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1)
Early writing is supported through the Read Write Inc. phonics programme, alongside well-planned continuous provision. Pupils are provided with frequent opportunities to develop writing skills through:
- High-quality adult modelling
- Structured teacher-led activities
- Daily opportunities for independent writing
Writing in Key Stages 1 and 2
Writing is taught daily through a structured and progressive sequence. Units are carefully planned to ensure progression in both knowledge and skills.
Key elements of the writing curriculum include:
- Composition: Pupils are taught how to structure and organise different text types effectively
- Transcription: Pupils develop increasingly accurate spelling and fluent, legible handwriting
Each unit typically includes:
- A ‘hook’ lesson to provide enthusiasm and intrigue for the learning ahead
- Exposure to high-quality model texts
- Explicit teacher modelling of the writing process
- Opportunities for discussion, planning, drafting, editing, and publishing
- Links to other areas of the curriculum where meaningful
The grammar curriculum is carefully mapped to align with writing units, ensuring that grammatical knowledge is taught progressively and applied directly within pupils’ writing.
Spelling and handwriting are taught through short, focused daily sessions. As a school, we have developed progression documents for both areas in order to ensure learning is meaningful and built on. Pupils are expected to apply these skills consistently across all writing tasks.
Impact
As a result of our writing curriculum, pupils at Brandesburton Primary School:
- Write with increasing confidence, accuracy, and independence
- Understand how to adapt their writing for different audiences and purposes
- Demonstrate secure knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Plan, draft, edit, and improve their work effectively
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils have developed a strong writer’s voice. They can write at length, sustain ideas, and use language, grammar, and punctuation deliberately to create specific effects.
Pupils leave Brandesburton Primary School as confident communicators, equipped with the writing skills necessary for the next stage of their education and beyond.
