Writing
Writing is an essential tool in the learning process. Children write to express their emotions, to convey their thoughts and opinions and to present evidence of research. By developing these skills we can equip our children to use writing across the range of curricular activities in which they are involved. At Giffard Park we encourage our children to be proud of the work that they produce. At the end of each unit of work children complete an ‘Exciting Writing’ task. During this time children are given the opportunity to produce writing based on all that they have learnt across the unit of work. This writing is recorded in a special book that children take with them as they move through each year group. They are given time to share this work with their peers should they wish too, so that their writing can be celebrated. At Giffard Park children are given opportunities to write in a range of genres. They are taught to think about the audience, purpose and form of their writing. Children plan, edit and redraft their work with focus on presentation and handwriting and they are taught how to structure their writing using sentences, paragraphs and headings as appropriate. Examples of various forms of writing are displayed in all classrooms and are discussed regularly so that children become familiar with the structure and language features of these writing forms.
Handwriting
At Giffard Park we believe that a flexible, fluent and legible handwriting style empowers children to write with confidence and creativity. Efficient handwriting leads to high quality writing and as such, we actively teach it as part of the English curriculum. Formal handwriting skills are taught regularly and systematically through the use of the PENPALS Handwriting scheme (Cambridge University Press). Five stages of handwriting are identified and these form the basic organisation of the scheme: readiness for writing: gross and fine motor skills leading to letter formation, beginning to join, securing joins, practising speed and fluency and presentation skills. Handwriting sessions at Giffard Park typically include a physical warm up to prepare the body, a physical activity engaging the gross motor skills required for the letters and joins taught that lesson, a clear description of the skill being taught, modelling from the class teacher and then time for children to practice. By providing frequent and regular handwriting sessions the skills learnt will then transfer into children’s wider work.
