Overview

Writing at East Dene

At East Dene, writing is at the heart of our curriculum. We have carefully designed a bespoke writing curriculum that is rooted in the principles of the Writing Framework and informed by Evidence for Learning and Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) guidance. Our approach has been developed specifically for our children, ensuring that every pupil, from their very first day in Nursery and Reception through to Year 6, is equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become a successful writer.

Our curriculum is built on the belief that great writing begins long before a child puts pencil to paper. We recognise that children need rich language experiences, a deep understanding of vocabulary, and meaningful opportunities to explore ideas before composing independently. As a result, our writing journey is carefully sequenced, ensuring that pupils develop the foundations of communication, language and composition before progressing towards increasingly sophisticated writing.

Early Years Foundation Stage to Year 2: Curious Quests

In EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Year 2, writing is driven through our Curious Quests approach. High-quality picture books provide the stimulus for learning, immersing children in rich vocabulary, engaging narratives and inspiring ideas. Through shared experiences, discussion and exploration, children develop a deep understanding of language and story structures.

Before children write independently, they engage in a carefully planned sequence of learning that prioritises:

• Language development and vocabulary acquisition
• Oral rehearsal and storytelling
• Dictation and sentence construction
• Shared and modelled writing
• Oral composition and discussion

By developing ideas through talk first, children are able to internalise language patterns, organise their thoughts and build confidence as writers. This approach ensures that pupils have secured the foundations of composition before being expected to record their ideas independently.

Years 3 to 6: Novel Study and Authorial Craft

As children move into Key Stage 2, they continue their writing journey through a rich programme of novel studies. Each class studies high-quality texts that become the driver for both reading and writing. The carefully chosen novels expose pupils to ambitious vocabulary, diverse themes and exemplary models of writing.

Through these studies, pupils explore a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres, developing both their understanding of texts and their ability to write for different audiences and purposes. Writing units are designed to immerse children in the content, language and structures they will need before they begin composing independently.

A key feature of our curriculum is the explicit teaching of ‘composition before composition’. Before pupils write extended pieces, they spend time gathering ideas, analysing authorial techniques, studying sentence structures, rehearsing language orally and creating high-quality examples of writing. This process enables pupils to develop a secure understanding of how effective writing is crafted before applying these skills within their own compositions.

Developing Confident, Skilled Writers

Throughout the school, our curriculum provides frequent opportunities for pupils to:

• Read widely and critically
• Develop a rich and ambitious vocabulary
• Rehearse and discuss ideas orally
• Learn and apply grammar in meaningful contexts
• Write across a range of genres and purposes
• Plan, draft, edit and improve their work
• Develop stamina and independence as writers

By the time pupils leave East Dene, they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and creativity to write effectively across the curriculum and beyond. Through our carefully designed, research-informed and highly ambitious writing curriculum, we aim to nurture confident communicators who can articulate their ideas with clarity, purpose and pride.

Spelling

At East Dene, we believe that spelling is a fundamental component of transcription and plays a vital role in developing confident, fluent writers. Accurate spelling allows children to communicate their ideas effectively and ensures that cognitive energy can be devoted to composition, vocabulary choice and sentence construction rather than the mechanics of writing.

Our spelling curriculum is delivered through the Read Write Inc. Spelling Programme, a carefully structured programme for pupils from Year 2 to Year 6 that builds directly upon the phonics knowledge established through Read Write Inc. Phonics. The programme provides a systematic approach to teaching spelling patterns, word structures and spelling strategies, helping children become increasingly accurate and independent spellers. 

Through daily practice, retrieval and application, children develop the automaticity needed to apply spelling knowledge confidently across all areas of the curriculum.

Handwriting

At East Dene Primary School, we support every child to develop strong writing skills and a love of writing, helping them to write fluently and with confidence.

To support this, handwriting is taught using the Read Write Inc. (RWI) Handwriting Programme which provides a clear, progressive structure that supports children to develop accurate letter formation, fluency and confidence in writing. By developing automatic, well-formed handwriting movements, children are better able to focus on the content of their writing rather than the physical act of writing itself.

The Read Write Inc. approach avoids unnecessary complexity. It does not use old-fashioned loops, which can slow children’s writing speed, and instead promotes a clear, efficient style that supports fluent writing as children move through school.