Writing at St Andrew's
At St Andrew’s CE Primary School, we aim for every child to see themselves as a writer and to develop a genuine love of writing. We strive to inspire confidence, creativity and enjoyment so that pupils feel empowered to express their ideas clearly and purposefully.
Our curriculum enables children to write for a range of purposes and audiences, understanding how writing changes depending on context and making thoughtful choices to communicate their ideas effectively.
We place strong emphasis on the development of key writing skills, including handwriting, spelling and punctuation, so that pupils become fluent writers who can focus on composition, creativity and the clear communication of ideas.
Ultimately, we want every child to leave St Andrew’s as a confident, fluent and enthusiastic writer, equipped with the skills, knowledge and passion needed for the next stage of their education.
How do we teach writing?
At St Andrew’s, writing is taught through a carefully sequenced approach rooted in the National Curriculum and informed by the Writing Framework. Knowledge and skills are built progressively from Reception, where early writing begins with oral composition alongside the explicit teaching of handwriting and spelling.
Within writing lessons, grammar and sentence construction are taught explicitly through daily sentence-level activities. A consistent writing process is followed across the school: pupils explore purpose and audience, gather ideas, observe teacher modelling, draft their writing, edit and improve their work, and produce a final published piece.
Writing is rooted in high-quality texts and linked to the wider curriculum, ensuring pupils write regularly for a range of meaningful purposes and audiences.
Handwriting
We prioritise the fundamentals of writing so that pupils develop fluency and confidence. Handwriting is taught systematically across the school, following a consistent whole-school approach to posture, correct pencil grip, letter formation and joining. Teachers use a shared language and clear modelling to help pupils form letters accurately and maintain the correct shape and size.
Handwriting is taught in regular 15-minute sessions, supported by high-quality teacher modelling and practice. We believe that developing good handwriting requires self-discipline, skill and consistent teaching.
From Reception, pupils are taught using a semi-cursive style without loops or lead-ins. Letters include joining strokes so that pupils can begin to join their writing naturally once they are confident and fluent with letter formation.
Spelling
Spelling is taught systematically through the Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) programme: phonics in Reception and Year 1, ELS Essential Spelling in Year 2, and ELS Essential Spelling and Word Knowledge in Key Stage 2. Strategies such as dictation support accuracy and deepen understanding of spelling patterns.