At Godmanchester Bridge Academy, we follow the scheme ‘The Write Stuff’ as a teaching model to create our English curriculum. We have chosen this approach as it is backed by research and the science behind learning to write.
Specifically, our aims for the teaching and learning of writing are as follows:
- To nurture a culture where children take pride in their writing and can clearly adapt their language style for a range of contexts. They will feel comfortable to have a go at trying new ideas. The children are not afraid to make mistakes as they understand this forms part of the learning process.
- To ensure that our children receive high quality Phonics teaching every day in EYFS and KS1. We use the ‘Read Write Inc’ teaching tool and move on to a spelling and grammar focus in Key Stage 2. This progressive approach ensures that our children are well placed to spell words with fluency and confidence.
- To make links between what they have read and how they can use what they have read in their writing.
- To use the skills and knowledge learnt in an English lesson across the curriculum.
- To intend that our children have developed a love of writing and be able to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively across a range text types. This will be developed through experience days and free write lessons.
- Units of writing will be carefully sequenced so that it builds and connects with previous learning.
- Children’s learning will move from the bigger picture to the more detailed areas to focus on.
- To think about their language, purpose and audience when writing.
- To be able to re-read, edit and improve their own writing.
- Children will develop their expertise in writing by listening and watching the class teacher demonstrate writing using thinking out loud.
- Through writing lessons the children will understand and follow the 7 components of writing – planning, drafting, sharing, evaluating, revising, editing and publishing.
- Children will learn how to avoid overloading their working memory as they will work on small parts of their writing at one time.
- Children will be taught how to effectively plan their writing by creating a zoomed out structure and then focusing on the detail when they zoom in on different parts of their
writing.
The curriculum overview is available to download to the left of this page.