OUR VISION
What do we want? To provide every child with the tools to express themselves, to create and to feel empowered through written and spoken word.
Why? To enable our pupils to communicate with clarity, access a vocabulary rich future and to achieve their dreams.
Intent
To engage all writers (with a particular focus on reluctant writers).
For children to write with confidence, fluency and understanding, orchestrating a range of independent strategies (gathering resources that support their writing e.g. the keys, word mats, opener prompts, alphabet strips and phonics mats) to self-monitor, edit and correct.
To plan, assess and deliver the Pathways to Write units, adapting them to meet the needs of all learners.
To give children the opportunity to explore words and their meanings, developing a growing vocabulary in spoken and written forms.
To understand a range of text types and genres and to be able to write in a variety of styles and forms appropriate to the situation.
To develop the powers of imagination, inventiveness and critical awareness.
For writing to be woven throughout and across the creative curriculum.
Implementation
Within EYFS and Key Stage 1 the children develop their writing through the Read, Write Inc programme. During Year 2 the children move over to our writing programme, Pathways to Write, and this is continued throughout Key Stage 2. Pathways to Write is a proven methodology built around units of work which develop vocabulary, reading and writing skills through the mastery approach. Effective teaching strategies to challenge greater depth writers are included within each unit of work. We believe that this programme allows our children to become creative and independent writers. The Pathways to Write programme engages all writers and enables them to develop confidence, as well as fluency of the necessary skills. This then embeds their understanding of the genre allowing them to apply these skills across the curriculum and promotes independence. This scheme provides a specific approach to writing, as outlined below:
Gateway write:
The children are presented with a hook that links to the text for the unit, which inspires and engages all learners. Next, the children produce a piece of independent writing (which is linked to the hook) and the previously taught skills are assessed. This allows for any gaps in learning to be identified and addressed, as they are marked against the gateway keys.
Pathway:
This is approximately ten sessions where combinations of the gateway and mastery keys are focussed upon. This builds on the children’s prior learning to enable them to become confident writers and to truly master the writing skills required.
A variety of writing opportunities are available, which address previously taught genres, allowing the children to hone in on the skills taught.
Write Away:
This follows the structure of plan, write and edit over a five-day period. On completion, the piece is assessed based upon the gateway, mastery and feature keys. These are then used to support judgements on Insight alongside existing teacher knowledge of each writer.
Impact
There will be clear progression regarding the genres covered and the text types used.
A structured and consistent approach to the learning spaces, the teaching and delivery of the scheme, the assessment format and the access to the gateway and mastery keys will aid progression.
The attainment of reluctant writers will increase, along with other key groups (pupil premium and SEND) in the hope that the whole school attainment will also increase.
To raise the profile of writing across the whole school through the use of the scheme and creative writing within other areas of the curriculum and SJF ‘Moments Of Wonder’ theme days/weeks.
Read, Write Inc Writing and Grammar focus within each colour band
Pathways to Write Overview of Texts and Genres Taught
Pathways to Write Overview of Objectives in Years 2 - 6