Writing

At Dunalley, our writing curriculum is built around a rich and diverse range of high-quality children's literature. These carefully chosen texts inspire and motivate our children to become confident, enthusiastic writers. Books are used as both a stimulus for writing and as models of effective language and composition.

From EYFS through to Year 6, each year group explores a variety of fiction, non-fiction, picture books and poetry. These texts provide excellent examples of literature and, where appropriate, link to learning in other curriculum areas. Our carefully planned selection of books exposes children to a wide range of authors, themes, genres and perspectives, helping to broaden their knowledge and enrich their vocabulary.

Children are taught to write for a range of purposes through their writing journey, including to entertain, inform, persuade and discuss. Alongside this, they develop the grammatical knowledge, spelling and transcription skills and vocabulary needed to communicate effectively. Across all subjects, we teach and reinforce subject-specific vocabulary so that children can express themselves accurately and confidently in both spoken and written language.

The READY Approach

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we use the READY (Rehearsal, Explore, Deepen, Application, Young Writer's Voice) approach to ensure children develop the strong foundations needed to become successful writers.

The READY Framework breaks the writing process into manageable steps, allowing children to build confidence and understanding before composing their own writing. Through carefully structured learning sequences, children develop ideas, explore language, practise key skills and apply their learning independently. This approach helps children become fluent, confident and increasingly independent writers.

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children are introduced to key text types (narrative, recount, instructions and reports (Year 2) and learn how writing changes depending on its purpose. They are taught key sentence structures and language patterns, which support oral rehearsal and help them develop confidence before writing independently.

High-quality texts remain at the heart of every writing journey, providing inspiration, rich language and meaningful contexts for learning.

Developing Writers in Key Stage 2

Once these strong foundations have been established, children continue to develop as writers throughout Key Stage 2. High-quality texts continue to provide meaningful and engaging contexts for writing, ensuring that children can practise, apply and refine their skills.

As they progress through Key Stage 2, children learn to write for an increasingly wide range of purposes and audiences. They develop their ability to persuade, discuss, explain, recount events and create imaginative narratives. The curriculum is carefully planned by year group teachers to meet the needs of our children and is responsive to their interests and learning needs. Wherever possible, writing opportunities build on learning from across the curriculum, providing meaningful contexts in which children can succeed and be challenged.

Alongside composition, children are taught the transcription skills needed to become successful writers, including handwriting, spelling and grammar. These skills are practised regularly and applied within meaningful writing contexts.

Throughout the curriculum, children learn how vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure work together to create effective writing. They are encouraged to make deliberate choices as writers to communicate meaning clearly and engage their audience.

Throughout their time at Dunalley, children are taught to think and act as writers. They learn how vocabulary, sentence structure and grammar combine to create effective communication, and they are encouraged to make purposeful choices depending on audience and purpose. Through regular opportunities to draft, revise and improve their work, children develop increasing confidence, independence and fluency as writers.

Progression and Achievement

Progression across all key stages is carefully mapped to ensure that knowledge and skills build systematically over time. Key writing skills are revisited regularly, enabling children to deepen their understanding and make sustained progress as writers from year to year. Teachers assess writing throughout each unit to identify strengths and next steps, ensuring that teaching is responsive to children's needs.

Each writing unit culminates in a purposeful outcome, such as publishing work, presenting to another class or sharing writing with peers. These opportunities provide an authentic purpose for writing and celebrate children's growing confidence and identity as writers.

Throughout every stage of the writing process, teachers provide opportunities for children to develop vocabulary, rehearse ideas orally, plan, draft, edit, revise and publish their work. Writing is modelled regularly so that children can see the thought processes, choices and techniques that successful writers use when creating effective pieces of writing. Children are taught that writing is a process. They learn to plan, draft, revise and edit their work, reflecting on how effectively their writing communicates meaning and making improvements as it develops.

 

Spelling

At Dunalley, we believe that accurate spelling is an essential life skill that enables children to communicate clearly and confidently. Strong spelling skills support children's writing, reading and vocabulary development, helping them to become effective communicators across all areas of the curriculum.

Our spelling curriculum is based on the requirements of the National Curriculum and is carefully structured to ensure that children develop a secure understanding of spelling patterns, rules and conventions as they progress through school. Children are taught the statutory spelling content for their year group alongside strategies that help them become independent and successful spellers.

We use the Essential Spelling programme developed by Herts for Learning to support the teaching and learning of spelling from Year 2. This approach encourages children to understand how words are constructed, recognise patterns within words and apply their spelling knowledge accurately in their everyday writing. Rather than simply memorising lists of words, children are taught to investigate spelling, identify rules and make links between words, enabling them to develop a deeper understanding of the English language.

Through regular, engaging lessons, children learn:

• Year group spelling patterns and rules.
• Statutory words from the National Curriculum.
• Common exception words.
• Prefixes, suffixes and word families.
• The relationship between spelling, meaning and word origins.
• Strategies for proofreading and editing their own writing.

Further information can be found here:

ESSENTIALSPELLING | HFL Education

Spelling is taught in a progressive way from EYFS through to Year 6. In the early years and Key Stage 1, children develop their understanding of sounds and letters through high-quality phonics teaching using Essential Letters and Sounds. As their phonic knowledge becomes secure, they begin to apply this understanding alongside spelling rules and conventions. They are also taught the words that form the statutory spelling lists in the National Curriculum. In Key Stage 2, children build on these foundations by exploring more complex spelling patterns, morphology (the structure of words) and etymology (the origins of words).

We know that becoming a confident speller requires regular practice and application. Children are encouraged to apply their spelling knowledge across all areas of the curriculum, and teachers provide regular opportunities for revisiting, practising and consolidating learning. Spelling is not taught in isolation; it is embedded within reading and writing so that children understand its purpose and importance in real contexts.

Supporting Spelling at Home

Parents and carers play an important role in helping children develop confidence in spelling. Simple activities completed regularly can make a significant difference.

You can support your child by:

• Practising weekly spelling words in short, regular sessions. Statutory spelling lists are linked below.
• Encouraging your child to spot spelling patterns and rules.
• Talking about the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• Reading regularly together and discussing interesting vocabulary.
• Encouraging your child to proofread their own writing.
• Exploring word games, puzzles and spelling apps.
• Helping your child use a dictionary to check spellings independently.

Developing Confident Writers

At Dunalley, we want children to see spelling as more than simply learning lists of words and to apply them in all of their writing. By developing an understanding of patterns, rules and the structure of language, children become more confident readers, writers and communicators. Our aim is for every child to leave Dunalley with the spelling knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond.

 

Handwriting

At Dunalley, we recognise that handwriting is a key component of effective writing. Fluent, legible and efficient handwriting allows children to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently, enabling them to focus on the content of their writing rather than the mechanics of letter formation.

The National Curriculum identifies handwriting as an essential skill that should be taught explicitly and practised regularly throughout primary education. Our handwriting curriculum is carefully structured to ensure that children develop the skills, stamina and confidence needed to write neatly, accurately and at an appropriate speed for their age.

Handwriting development begins in the Early Years, where children develop the physical skills needed for writing through activities that strengthen core muscles, fine motor control and hand-eye coordination. Children are taught correct pencil grip, posture and letter formation from the outset, helping them establish good habits that support future success.

In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children learn:

• Correct letter formation and orientation.
• How to hold a pencil comfortably and efficiently.
• How to sit correctly when writing.
• Letter size, positioning and spacing.
• The relationship between sounds, letters and written language.

Regular practice through explicit teaching helps children develop confidence and accuracy, resulting in clear and consistent handwriting. In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children are taught through carefully planned activities that develop fine motor control, correct pencil grip and hand strength to enable them to form letters correctly. As their confidence grows into Year 1 the children learn how to form letters consistently according to the letter families, position them correctly on the line and then to begin joining letters appropriately in Year 2.

As children move through Key Stage 2, they continue to develop a fluent, joined handwriting style. They are taught to write with increasing speed and accuracy while maintaining legibility. Regular practice through Years 3 and 4 helps children develop automaticity in joined handwriting begun in Year 2 allowing them to concentrate more fully on composition, vocabulary and the content of their writing.

The Department for Education's Writing Framework emphasises the importance of transcription skills, including handwriting, becoming increasingly automatic. When children can form letters efficiently and without conscious effort, they are better able to focus on generating ideas, organising their thoughts and producing high-quality written work.

Throughout the school, we promote high expectations for presentation across all subjects. Children are encouraged to take pride in their work by forming letters correctly, joining handwriting appropriately and presenting their learning neatly and carefully.

Supporting Handwriting at Home

Parents and carers can play an important role in supporting handwriting development. Simple activities can help children strengthen the muscles and coordination needed for effective handwriting particularly in EYFS and Key Stage 1

You can support your child by:

• Encouraging correct pencil grip and posture when writing.
• Providing opportunities for drawing, colouring and mark-making activities.
• Practising letter formation using the school's handwriting style.
• Encouraging careful presentation when completing homework.
• Playing activities that develop fine motor skills, such as building with construction toys, threading, cutting and crafts.
• Praising effort, perseverance and improvements in handwriting.

Developing Confident Writers

At Dunalley, we believe that strong handwriting supports successful writing. By developing fluent and automatic handwriting skills, children are better equipped to record their ideas, communicate effectively and achieve their full potential as writers. Our aim is for every child to leave Dunalley with a clear, legible and efficient handwriting style that will support them throughout their education and beyond.