Writing

Summary of Curriculum Intent

'I like how we get to do lots of different types of writing, like instructions, persuasive letters, newspaper reports and explanations.'

'We get to go on exciting trips that give us lots of ideas for our stories.'

At Queensmead, we ensure a clear progression of writing skills across the Academy, including sentence structure, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. To support children in moving towards independent writing, essential, transferable writing skills are taught in meaningful contexts, inspired by exciting, shared experiences, quality texts, visual resources and cross-curricular topics. We provide a wide range of activities to develop children's understanding of the structure and language features associated with different text types, and ensure they recognise the range of purposes that writing can have, e.g. inform, instruct, persuade or entertain. Targeted planning offers pupils opportunities to express their thoughts, exchange ideas and to develop more sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structures. We promote the status of written work by providing regular opportunities for children’s writing to be published and read by real audiences.

Writing Opportunities

Here are just some of the quality texts and exciting, shared experiences that have inspired our English Curriculum.

Year 6

During a residential trip to Edale in the Peak District, our Y6 pupils participated in 'teenage spy training' linked to the Anthony Horowitz novel Alex Rider: Stormbreaker. The experience was then used to inspire their writing, including a formal persuasive letter, an adventure story and an explanation text.

Year 5

After reading Kidnap on the California Comet by MG Leonard, our Y5 pupils enjoyed a camping trip to Mablethorpe, where they explored the beach and the traditional coastal town. The experience was then used to inspire their writing, including a persuasive letter, a leaflet and a mystery story.

Year 3

Inspired by the non-fiction text The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain & Yuval Zommer, our Y3 pupils visited The Heights of Abraham to explore the spectacular cave system. This amazing experience was then used as a stimulus for writing an adventure story, a non-chronological report and an explanation text.