Writing
Overview
The writing curriculum is carefully sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s transcription, composition and authorial skills over time. Using Jane Considine’s The Write Stuff approach, learning is structured to ensure that children develop confidence, stamina and a deep understanding of the writing process.
The curriculum is built around three key components:
- Ideas – developing content and creativity
- Tools – grammar, punctuation and vocabulary
- Structure – organising writing effectively
These elements are taught through carefully planned units, enabling children to build their knowledge and skills progressively across the primary phase.
The approach places a strong emphasis on:
- Developing sentence structure and fluency
- Expanding vocabulary and language choices
- Building confidence and independence in writing
Children are supported to become thoughtful writers who can communicate effectively for a range of purposes and audiences.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, children begin by developing the fundamental building blocks of writing.
Children learn to:
- Form letters correctly and write simple sentences
- Use basic punctuation, including capital letters and full stops
- Develop ideas through talk and shared writing
- Begin to use simple descriptive language
Through The Write Stuff approach, children are supported through:
- Sentence stacking lessons, where writing is built step by step
- Clear modelling of sentence construction
- Opportunities to rehearse ideas verbally before writing
Children develop early understanding of:
- Sentence structure
- Vocabulary choices
- Writing for simple purposes
This ensures children build confidence and develop a secure foundation in writing.
Lower Key Stage 2
In Lower Key Stage 2, children build on their early writing skills and begin to develop greater control and independence.
Children learn to:
- Write in a range of genres, including narrative and non-fiction
- Use a wider range of punctuation and sentence structures
- Develop more detailed and organised ideas
- Edit and improve their own writing
The The Write Stuff approach supports children to:
- Use sentence lenses to focus on different aspects of writing
- Apply grammar and punctuation accurately
- Expand their vocabulary through guided teaching
Children begin to:
- Make deliberate choices about language and structure
- Write with increasing fluency and cohesion
- Understand how writing can be adapted for different purposes
Upper Key Stage 2
In Upper Key Stage 2, children refine and apply their writing skills with increasing independence and sophistication.
They learn to:
- Write effectively across a wide range of genres and purposes
- Use varied sentence structures and advanced punctuation
- Develop clear, well-structured and engaging pieces of writing
- Edit and evaluate their work independently
Children develop:
- Greater control over tone, audience and purpose
- The ability to manipulate language for effect
- Confidence in crafting extended pieces of writing
They are encouraged to:
- Reflect on and improve their work
- Make purposeful choices in vocabulary and structure
- Write with clarity, accuracy and creativity
By the end of Key Stage 2, children are confident writers who can communicate ideas effectively and with increasing sophistication.
Implementation
Writing is taught through Jane Considine’s The Write Stuff, which provides a clear and structured approach to teaching writing.
Lessons are:
- Carefully sequenced through sentence stacking lessons
- Built around high-quality texts and engaging contexts
- Designed to develop writing step by step
Teaching includes:
- Explicit modelling of writing
- Opportunities for talk and rehearsal before writing
- Focused grammar and vocabulary instruction
- Regular opportunities for editing and improving work
The approach ensures that:
- All children are supported to succeed
- Learning is broken down into manageable steps
- Writing is purposeful and meaningful
Impact
By the time children leave St Paul’s, they have developed:
- Confidence and fluency in writing
- Secure understanding of grammar, punctuation and spelling
- The ability to write for a range of purposes and audiences
- Independence in planning, writing and editing
Children can:
- Construct well-organised and coherent pieces of writing
- Use a wide range of vocabulary and sentence structures
- Reflect on and improve their work
- Communicate ideas clearly and effectively
Children show clear progression over time, developing from early sentence writing to producing sustained and high-quality pieces of writing.
Most importantly, children develop a love of writing and the confidence to express themselves creatively and effectively.