At St Mary's School, we view writing as a continuous journey that develops from the moment children begin to communicate their ideas in the early years through to becoming confident, independent and effective writers by the end of Key Stage 2. We recognise that writing is a complex skill which requires the successful integration of many elements, including composition, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting. Therefore, we provide a carefully planned writing curriculum that builds progressively across the school, ensuring that pupils develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed at each stage of their learning.

Our writing curriculum is structured as a clear continuum, with key milestones and expectations identified for every year group. This ensures that children continually build upon prior learning and develop increasing independence, accuracy and sophistication in their writing. Teachers explicitly teach the skills, knowledge and techniques required to be successful writers, while providing frequent opportunities for pupils to write for a range of authentic purposes and audiences.

Being a successful writer involves much more than simply putting words on a page. At St Mary's, we place equal importance on:

Handwriting

Children are taught correct letter formation from the earliest stages of learning. As they progress through the school, they develop a fluent, legible and increasingly automatic handwriting style, enabling them to focus more fully on the content and quality of their writing.

Spelling

Spelling is taught systematically through carefully sequenced progression. Children learn phonics, spelling patterns, rules and strategies appropriate to their age and stage of development. Regular practice helps pupils become increasingly accurate and confident spellers.

Composition and Authorial Choices

Pupils learn how to plan, draft, edit and improve their writing. They develop their ability to select effective vocabulary, vary sentence structures and organise ideas clearly and coherently. As they move through the school, children are encouraged to develop their own authorial voice and make purposeful choices to influence their reader.

Writing for Purpose and Audience

Children write across a wide range of genres, including narratives, reports, explanations, instructions, persuasive texts, poetry and discussion writing. Through this broad experience, pupils learn how writers adapt language, structure and style according to purpose and audience.

Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar and punctuation are taught progressively and embedded within meaningful writing opportunities. Children learn not only how grammatical features work, but also how they can be used effectively to enhance their writing.

At every stage, our aim is to develop pupils who can communicate clearly, creatively and confidently through the written word. We celebrate writing across the curriculum and ensure that children have regular opportunities to apply and refine their skills in a range of subjects and contexts.

Below are the progression steps that we use to broadly assess and monitor each child's development as a writer throughout their journey at St Mary's School. These milestones help us identify strengths, celebrate achievement and ensure that every pupil continues to make strong progress towards becoming a skilled, independent and enthusiastic writer.