Spelling
Children learn spellings through the Little Wandle Phonics Programme in Key Stage One, until they are ready to progress onto the Government Spelling Appendix.
We use the ATT Way guidance to teach spellings.
Handwriting
We feel it is important to support children to develop neat, attractive and consistent handwriting. The development of an efficient, legible style assists pupils in all forms of written recording. We want to help children with layout, presentation and the way they organise themselves on paper. If success is achieved in this area, they have pride in their written work, tend to be better at spelling and are more motivated to write. Getting the right habits established early on is key to future success. We appreciate that some children find this more difficult than others and will offer additional support or alternative ways of recording when necessary.
Standards in handwriting are high at our school. We use the Nelson handwriting scheme.
As soon as pupils are able to orientate their letters correctly, they are taught how to join their letters. Short, focused handwriting sessions are taught on a regular basis. Handwriting has a high focus and a high status at our school.
Writing
In Years 1-6, our writing lessons follow the Grammarsaurus writing scheme for writing which has enables our children to learn to write a range of genres through planned units which include modelled, shared and guided writing. The teaching and learning of grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) is linked to our units of writing through our bespoke curriculum which has been designed by us to maximise learning of the local area. The English curriculum has been carefully planned from a core text stimulus and explicit links are made between English, History, Geography and Science units of work.