Writing Statement

English Writing

Our Goal                                                        Passion for Learning...

 At Bentley St Paul's, we want our all our children to have a passion for learning where they gain life – long learning skills; a sense of adventure; the ability to enquire and make emotional connections.  

Our Christian Values

Friendship, Forgiveness, Trust, Peace, Wisdom, Responsibility, Respect and Reverence underpin all that we do and are the foundations of our drivers.

Our Tools

What we want the Children to learn in Writing...

At Bentley St Paul’s C of E Primary School, we intend to foster a love for writing that engages and inspires all children to become confident and competent communicators. Our writing curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils develop the essential skills needed to express their thoughts and ideas creatively and effectively.

We aspire to:

Cultivate a passion for literature and writing from an early age, allowing pupils to explore a diverse range of genres and styles.

Embed the school's Christian values into writing tasks, encouraging pupils to reflect on their thoughts and beliefs, and to articulate these within their written work.

Promote the development of critical thinking skills that enable pupils to analyse, evaluate, and enhance their writing.

Ensure that every child, regardless of their starting point, has access to high-quality writing experiences, thereby enabling them to achieve their full potential.

How the Children learn in Writing...

Our approach to writing is grounded in a structured yet flexible framework that encourages creativity while also focusing on the technical aspects of writing.

Curriculum Design: Our writing curriculum is carefully designed to cover the National Curriculum objectives. Writing is integrated across all subjects, ensuring that pupils apply their skills in various contexts. We utilise a progressive spiral curriculum that revisits key writing skills, allowing for consolidation and mastery over time. We provide clear objectives and success criteria for each writing unit, tailored to meet the diverse needs of pupils.

High-Quality Texts: We select a range of high-quality texts across genres that reflect diverse voices and experiences. These texts serve as models for pupils and stimulate their imagination.

Writing Across the Curriculum: Writing is integrated throughout all subject areas, ensuring that pupils have numerous opportunities to write for different purposes and audiences, reinforcing the relevance of writing skills.

Teaching Strategies: Lesson planning includes explicit instruction in the writing process, from brainstorming to drafting, editing, and publishing. We employ a variety of teaching methods, including shared writing, guided writing, and independent writing tasks, to cater to different learning styles. Interactive and engaging activities, such as peer collaboration, and drama to support narrative, are regularly incorporated into lessons.

Collaborative Learning: We promote collaborative writing exercises, where pupils share ideas and feedback, thereby enhancing their communicative skills and fostering a sense of community.

Assessment and Feedback: Formative assessment is a regular feature in our writing curriculum, allowing teachers to monitor progress and adjust instruction accordingly. Feedback is constructive and specific, focusing not only on what pupils did well but also on how they can improve. We celebrate achievements through writing displays and class books, fostering a sense of community and pride in pupils' work.

Professional Development: Ongoing professional development for staff ensures that they remain updated with best practices in teaching writing, including the latest research in literacy education.

Writing Impact...

The impact of our writing programme is evident in the high levels of engagement and attainment observed among our pupils:

High Standards of Writing: Data indicates that the vast majority of pupils meet age-related expectations in writing by the end of Key Stage 2, with a significant number exceeding these expectations. This is evidenced by internal assessments and external assessments.

Engagement and Enjoyment: Pupil feedback indicates a heightened enjoyment and enthusiasm for writing. Surveys show an increase in the number of pupils who feel confident when writing and willing to share their work.

Diverse Voices and Perspectives: Our inclusive writing programme has empowered pupils to voice their unique perspectives, leading to greater respect and understanding of diversity within the classroom. Pupils have expressed their own cultural narratives through their writing, promoting a sense of belonging.

Transfer of Skills: The writing skills acquired are evident across the curriculum, with pupils applying their writing abilities in other subjects. This transference of skills reinforces the importance of writing as a foundational skill.

Long-term Aspirations: Our commitment to nurturing young writers has cultivated a generation of children who view writing as a key life skill, opening pathways for future educational and career opportunities.

Through our dedicated approach to writing, firmly rooted in our Church of England identity, we continue to build a thriving community of confident, skilled, and empathetic young writers prepared to contribute positively to society.