Writing 

At Barnes, we believe that every child should leave primary school as a confident, fluent and independent writer who can communicate their ideas clearly for a range of purposes and audiences. 

Intent

Writing is a vital life skill. It enables pupils to express their thoughts, communicate effectively and deepen their understanding across all areas of the curriculum. We believe that all children, regardless of starting point, are entitled to a rich and ambitious writing curriculum that develops both their technical accuracy and their ability to write with meaning, purpose and creativity.

Our approach to writing recognises that writing is complex and must be carefully taught. We prioritise the development of strong foundations in spoken language, handwriting, spelling and sentence construction, so that pupils can write with increasing fluency and independence over time.

We also recognise the crucial role of spoken language in writing. Pupils are supported to articulate their ideas verbally before writing, helping them develop vocabulary, sentence structure and confidence in expressing themselves.

By the end of Year 6, we aim for all pupils to:

• write clearly, accurately and coherently
• adapt their writing for different purposes and audiences
• use a wide vocabulary and control of grammar
• take pride in their writing and develop independence as authors

Implementation

Our writing curriculum is carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6 to ensure that pupils build the knowledge and skills needed to become successful writers over time.

Building strong foundations

We place a strong emphasis on the early development of writing. In Reception and Key Stage 1, pupils are taught the essential skills of handwriting and spelling explicitly and are given regular opportunities to practise these skills to build fluency.

Spoken language is at the heart of our teaching. Pupils are encouraged to rehearse ideas orally, develop vocabulary and practise sentence structures before writing. This ensures that all pupils are well prepared for the demands of writing.

Developing sentence and text-level writing

As pupils progress through the school, teaching focuses on developing accurate and varied sentence construction before extending into longer pieces of writing. Grammar and punctuation are taught within the context of writing, enabling pupils to understand how these tools support meaning and impact.

High-quality texts are carefully selected to enrich our writing curriculum. These texts provide pupils with rich vocabulary, exposure to varied language structures and meaningful contexts for writing. They also act as models of effective writing, supporting pupils to understand how authors craft sentences and structure texts. This is always combined with explicit teaching of writing skills, ensuring that pupils develop both understanding and independence as writers.

Teachers model the writing process clearly, including planning, drafting, editing and improving. Pupils are supported through shared and guided writing before developing independence.

Writing for purpose and across the curriculum

Pupils are given regular opportunities to write for a range of meaningful purposes and audiences. Writing is not limited to English lessons; it is embedded across the curriculum so that pupils use writing to explain, justify and reflect on their learning.

Supporting all learners

We recognise that pupils develop at different rates. Early identification ensures that pupils who require additional support receive targeted teaching and additional practice to help them succeed.

Developing reflective writers

Pupils are taught to review and improve their writing. Through careful modelling and support, they learn how to plan, monitor and evaluate their own work, enabling them to become increasingly independent and confident writers.

Impact

The impact of our writing curriculum is seen in the confidence, fluency and independence of our pupils as writers.

By the time they leave Barnes, pupils:

• write with increasing fluency, accuracy and stamina
• construct and control sentences effectively to communicate meaning
• adapt their writing to suit different purposes and audiences
• use ambitious vocabulary and a secure understanding of grammar
• take pride in their work and show a willingness to edit and improve

Pupils are able to use writing effectively across the curriculum, supporting their thinking and learning in a wide range of subjects.

While pupils achieve well in statutory assessments, we place equal importance on developing confident, capable writers who are prepared for the next stage of their education and beyond. We avoid narrowing our curriculum through an over-focus on test preparation, ensuring that pupils experience a broad and rich writing curriculum.