Our approach to writing:  

Our children begin their writing journey in Nursery, where strong foundations are established through a daily programme of fine and gross motor development, mark-making opportunities and purposeful talk about the marks they create. From the earliest stages, children are encouraged to see themselves as authors, understanding that writing is a meaningful way to communicate ideas, thoughts and experiences. 

We believe that children write best when they have a genuine purpose for doing so. Providing real audiences and authentic outcomes motivates pupils to take pride in their work and strive for their very best. The quality of the stimulus material and subject matter is therefore crucial, enabling children to engage deeply with their learning and demonstrate their understanding through meaningful writing opportunities. 

As children progress through EYFS and Key Stage 1, we place equal importance on both composition and transcription. These elements work hand in hand: composition allows children to develop and communicate their ideas, while transcription skills, including handwriting and spelling, enable them to record those ideas fluently and accurately. By explicitly teaching transcription skills, we reduce cognitive load and free children to focus on their creativity, imagination and authorial choices. 

Developing pupil voice is central to our writing curriculum. Children are encouraged to make purposeful decisions about what they write and how they write it. However, true depth of understanding is achieved when these compositional choices are supported by fluency in transcription. Through carefully planned teaching, practice and application, children become increasingly confident and independent writers. 

The importance of fluent written transcription skills is reinforced by the Education Endowment Foundation's Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1 guidance (2016), which highlights the need for pupils to practise writing effectively through regular opportunities for feedback and response. We ensure that children receive timely, constructive feedback and are given opportunities to reflect upon, improve and celebrate their writing, enabling them to make sustained progress as successful young authors.