English

INTENT

At West Borough Primary School, we are committed to supporting all pupils to become successful writers who enjoy writing, take pride in their work and develop confidence in their own abilities. We aim to foster a love of writing whilst equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to write with increasing accuracy, purpose and independence.

Our English curriculum is designed to inspire children through high-quality texts and meaningful learning experiences. We want pupils to develop their vocabulary, imagination and understanding of language so that they can communicate their ideas effectively and adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences. Through carefully chosen texts and purposeful learning opportunities, pupils strengthen their reading and writing skills whilst growing in confidence as learners.

We recognise that becoming a skilled writer takes time, practice and careful teaching. Therefore, we provide a curriculum that develops the essential components of writing, including composition, grammar, spelling and handwriting, through a clear and progressive journey from Early Years to Year 6.

Our curriculum is ambitious for all learners. Through adaptive teaching, appropriate challenge and carefully planned support, all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, are supported to achieve success and make sustained progress throughout their writing journey, preparing them well for each stage of their education.

IMPLEMENTATION

English is taught daily through a carefully planned and progressive curriculum that develops pupils' knowledge, skills and confidence over time.

We follow the Pathways to Write programme, which provides a carefully sequenced approach to teaching writing through high-quality texts. Each unit is built around a carefully chosen text and provides opportunities for pupils to explore vocabulary, engage in discussion and develop their understanding of grammar, composition and authorial techniques. Through exposure to rich and diverse literature, pupils deepen their understanding of language, text structures and the choices writers make to engage and inform their readers. Children learn from model texts, participate in shared and guided writing activities and are supported to apply their learning independently, writing for a range of purposes and audiences. This approach ensures clear progression from Early Years to Year 6, helping pupils to develop increasing confidence, independence and effectiveness as writers.

Alongside writing, we place a strong emphasis on the development of spelling and grammar. Spelling is taught through the Grammarsaurus morphology spelling progression, providing a systematic approach to spelling patterns, rules and statutory word lists as pupils move through the school. Regular retrieval activities help children revisit, retain and secure prior learning, whilst frequent opportunities for application encourage them to use their spelling knowledge across the wider curriculum. Grammar is taught both within English lessons and through discrete teaching where appropriate. Children are encouraged not only to learn grammatical concepts but also to understand how they can be used purposefully to improve their writing. Through discussion, modelled examples and regular opportunities to write, we aim for pupils to develop an increasingly secure understanding of how language works and how authors make deliberate choices to communicate effectively with their readers.

Handwriting is taught using Morrells' handwriting guidance. Letter formation, joins, consistency and presentation are explicitly taught and practised throughout the school. As pupils progress, increasing emphasis is placed on developing fluency and automaticity so that handwriting supports the writing process.

Vocabulary development is embedded throughout the English curriculum. Teachers explicitly teach and model ambitious vocabulary drawn from high-quality texts and provide opportunities for pupils to use new language in their speaking and writing.

Assessment for learning is an integral part of teaching. Teachers use questioning, discussion, observations and written outcomes to identify strengths and areas for development, enabling support and challenge to be provided as needed.

IMPACT

As pupils progress through the school, they develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to write with increasing accuracy, independence and purpose. They learn to make thoughtful choices about vocabulary, grammar and structure, edit and refine their work, and write for a range of audiences and purposes. We encourage pupils to take pride in the presentation of their work and develop resilience, creativity and a growing enjoyment of writing. At each stage of the curriculum, children build on prior learning and develop the knowledge and skills needed for the next phase of their education.

Our ambition is for all pupils to leave primary school as confident, capable writers who are ready for the next stage of their education. This impact is evidenced through pupils' written outcomes, ongoing assessment, pupil voice, lesson observations, book scrutiny and subject leadership monitoring, with children demonstrating increasing confidence and independence as writers over time.