Intent

At Portfields Primary School, we believe that writing is a fundamental life skill essential for effective communication, creative expression, and academic success. Our writing curriculum aims to equip all our students with the confidence, competence, and enjoyment needed to become versatile writers across a range of genres and purposes.

We utilise the Talk for Writing approach, aligned with the 2014 National Curriculum, to foster a love of language and provide our students with the tools they need to produce high-quality writing. Our curriculum emphasises the importance of oracy and the strong connection between spoken and written language.

Implementation

Our writing curriculum follows Talk for Writing's three-stage pedagogical model:

• Imitation: Students immerse themselves in high-quality model texts, internalising grammar, vocabulary, and stylistic elements through oral retelling, drama, and close reading. They dissect the text's structure and writing techniques, developing an understanding of "what makes good writing."

• Innovation: Students adapt and 'magpie' elements from the model text, incorporating their own ideas and style within a supportive framework. They practice using the techniques and vocabulary they have learned, experimenting within the established structure.

• Invention: Students apply their acquired skills and knowledge to produce original pieces of writing. They independently plan, draft, revise, and edit their work, demonstrating their ability to transfer their understanding of writerly techniques to new contexts.

Additional Elements

• Targeted instruction in grammar, punctuation, and spelling: Students receive explicit instruction and focused practice in these areas to enhance the technical accuracy of their writing.

• Rich and varied stimuli: Students are exposed to a wide range of texts – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc. – to inspire their writing and broaden their understanding of different genres and purposes.

• Cross-curricular integration: Writing is embedded across all subject areas, fostering students' ability to communicate their learning and apply writing skills in different contexts.

• Formative assessment: Teachers provide ongoing feedback that helps students to identify strengths and areas for development in their writing.

Impact

Through our writing curriculum, we aim to:

• Develop confident, fluent writers who can express themselves creatively and effectively.
• Enable students to compose accurate and well-structured texts across various genres and for different purposes.
• Equip students with the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to deconstruct and evaluate writing.
• Foster a lifelong appreciation of language and the written word.