English
Writing
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The Writing Framework from the Department of Education states that:
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Being able to write is a key skill throughout school and life. Being able to express ideas clearly and write fluently creates opportunities. Writing offers pupils opportunities to express attitudes, opinions, judgements and ideas.
At Kingsway Infant School we support the importance of writing, and believe that all children should be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions through their writing. From Reception onwards, children are emersed to develop their writing skills, from mark making to story writing. We believe that children should take pride in their presentation and develop their editing skills, knowing that it is a crucial part of the writing process.
We teach writing as a whole class lesson so that all children have access to age related skills and knowledge outlined in the National Curriculum. We follow Herts Essential Writing in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 to ensure that there is a breadth of purpose and that all skills are built upon. English is taught daily, and links with a high-quality text or poem. Oracy is prioritised within written activities to support the use of new vocabulary and to develop sentence structure.
To ensure that all children at Kingsway Infant School make progress in their writing and ensuring that the skills that they learn are consolidated and transferable, assessment for learning is incorporated in every English lesson, including live feedback and discussions with children. At Kingsway Infant School, teachers plan and adapt a well thought out curriculum which focuses on the children’s interests and developing purposes for writing.
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Handwriting
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One of the two main dimensions in the teaching and learning of writing is transcription. The National Curriculum states that as well as spelling skills, transcription depends on fluent, legible and eventually speedy handwriting. Handwriting is an essential life skill. Children who can write fluently and clearly are better able to use writing to record their thoughts and ideas. When handwriting is automatic, their ideas can flow. Children are taught handwriting precisely, in a clearly sequenced progression, starting from Reception. From Reception, we strengthen and develop fine motor skills by following the dough disco and pen disco activities. Across the school we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Handwriting scheme and use the HfL Handwriting overview when beginning to use cursive strokes.
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Progression in Handwriting
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By the end of Reception, children working at the expected level of development will:
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Sit correctly at a table
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Hold a pencil affectively in preparation for fluent writing – using the tripod grip in almost all cases
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Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paintbrushes and cutlery
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Begin to show accuracy and care when drawing
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Write recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed
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Attempt to use finger spaces between words
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In KS1, children:
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Have daily handwriting lessons to enable them to revise and practice correct letter formation
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Use comfortable and correct pencil grip
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Are taught formation of capital letters and lower case letters in the same direction, starting and finishing in the right place
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Are taught the formation of digits 0 – 9
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Recognise that letters belong to handwriting families (ie, letters that are formed in similar ways)
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Once they are able to form letters correctly and of the correct size, orientation and relationship to beach other, children are taught the approach and exit strokes needed to prepare them for cursive (joined up) handwriting.
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Little Wandle - Letter Formation - Capital Letters
Little Wandle - Letter Formation - Lower Case Letters
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Oracy
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Oracy is the ability to express oneself fluently, confidently, and accurately through spoken language, encompassing both speaking and listening skills.
Oracy is embedded throughout the curriculum and school life in order to develop foundational skills in all areas and to develop confidence. Across the school, speaking skills are incorporated into the writing curriculum and applied across all lessons. One of the most important aspects of Foundations for phonics is developing an awareness of sound, through activities that develop focused listening and attention, including oral blending.
In addition, children take part in weekly circle times, music lessons and have the opportunity to share their show and tell about their family and take part in curiosity time. All children have the opportunity to perform in a class or themed assembly, presenting from the stage, saying lines and singing.
Vocabulary
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Being able to draw on a broad and varied vocabulary when writing or talking allows pupils to communicate accurately, concisely and creatively.
The National curriculum says:
‘effective composition…requires…an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary’.
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At Kingsway Infant School we support this through reading a wide range of texts with children, identifying key vocabulary for each lesson and topic and through having a ‘Word of the Day’.
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