Writing at Southey Green

At Southey Green, we believe writing is at the heart of learning! From our youngest learners in Foundation Stage to our confident writers in Year 6, every child is given exciting opportunities to develop and showcase their writing skills across all areas of the curriculum. Children explore a wide variety of writing styles and purposes, learning the key features that make each one unique. Through creative tasks and cross-curricular projects, we inspire pupils to write in detail, express their ideas clearly, and enjoy the power of words!

We have designed our writing curriculum with the intent that our children will:

• · Control their speaking and writing consciously – using Standard English
• · Be able to plan, write and evaluate their own writing
• · Develop and awareness of audience, purpose and context for their writing.
• · Increase their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and how to use accurately
• · Leave school using fluent, legible and speedy handwriting
• · Spell words accurately, understanding the meaning of these and using them correctly in context
• · Work out and clarify the meaning of unfamiliar words, particularly those with more than one meaning

We follow the Teresa Heathcote Writing Scheme to support children in developing strong writing skills. This structured approach helps pupils build confidence in sentence construction, grammar, and creativity, while ensuring progression across all year groups. Through engaging activities and clear objectives, we aim to nurture a love of writing and enable every child to express themselves effectively.

At the start of every English unit, we use Immersion to spark curiosity and excitement! This stage is all about drawing children into the topic and building rich vocabulary. From there, pupils explore different forms of writing, analysing examples and practising key skills that will help them become confident writers. Next comes the creative process: planning, writing, and reviewing their own work. We make sure every piece has a clear purpose, so children feel motivated and proud of what they produce. Our goal is simple: to make writing purposeful, enjoyable, and empowering for every child.

Below is an online learning link to several fun games that the children are familiar with to help them with their Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar skills. These games help the children to apply their learning in a different environment and really motivate them to do well.

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/7-11-years/spelling-and-grammar

Teaching of Handwriting at Southey Green

At Southey Green we follow the Martin Harvey scheme of work. Recently Martin himself came in to school and completed a number of workshops with the children. Each letter is grouped in to a family which shares a familiar shape or feature. Correct letter formation is a huge part of our handwriting sessions and as all children move up through school we move towards joined handwriting. Handwriting is taught through at least four twenty minute sessions a week. Across school we have implemented handwriting expectations which we expect children to follow in all lessons.

Teaching of Spelling at Southey Green

Once children have a strong foundation in phonics, they progress to Read Write Inc. Spelling. This is taught through daily 20-minute sessions, using interactive workbooks and resources from the scheme. Rather than focusing on a small list of words, children learn spelling patterns, helping them apply their knowledge across all writing. Each week, pupils also practise common exception words from the National Curriculum – known as our red and orange words. Spelling is regularly assessed and monitored using the Read Write Inc. approach, ensuring every child makes progress. In Upper Key Stage 2, we take spelling even further! Children spend two sessions a week exploring the etymology (word origins) and morphology (word structure) of vocabulary. This deep dive helps them understand not just how to spell words, but why they are spelled that way – building confident, curious spellers.

Click HERE for the National Curriculum for Spelling.

Writing in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

At Southey Green, our EYFS provision follows the Statutory Framework for EYFS and the Development Matters guidance. These frameworks ensure clear progression across the three phases, supporting purposeful planning and continuous advancement. Children are immersed in rich writing opportunities—both through adult-led activities and within our carefully designed provision. We believe that physical development is the foundation for fine motor control and precision, which are essential for early literacy. Through repeated and varied experiences—such as small world play, puzzles, arts and crafts, and using small tools—children build confidence, control, and proficiency. Adult feedback and support further enhance these skills.

Writing in EYFS combines two key elements:

• Transcription – spelling and handwriting
• Composition – articulating ideas and structuring them in speech before writing.

By the end of EYFS, children working at the expected level will be able to:

• Hold a pencil effectively using a tripod grip, ready for fluent writing
• Use a range of small tools confidently, including scissors, paintbrushes, and cutlery
• Show accuracy and care when drawing
• Write recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed
• Spell words by identifying sounds and representing them with letters
• Write simple phrases and sentences that can be read by others