Writing
Writing in St Michael’s Primary school is led by an immersion in high-quality texts. This begins in reception with the oral retelling of stories, poems and traditional tales through Talk Through Stories to support understanding of word meaning. Story mapping is a skill which begins in reception and is used to support learning.

Key stage 1 use visual success criteria, which is progressive, to aid differentiated and adapted learning opportunities. Key stage 2 classes use success criteria provided by the teacher to support learning.

Writing is planned through a 3-week sequence and is followed throughout the school. Writing is linked to a quality text, picture book, film clip or an overarching theme. The sequence includes: immersion, grammar and application, planning, writing and editing.

Throughout the phases, teachers use WAGOLLS (examples of what a good one looks like) to support children. These examples highlight genre-specific criteria that children have been exposed to across each phase of learning. Teachers will also complete modelled and shared writing activities in their lessons.

Lessons are taught through skills and application of those skills and will result in a final piece of independent writing.

Writing is celebrated on the year group working walls, through corridor displays and in assembly by achieving the Learning Legend Award. Often children are celebrated with visits to see Miss Harris for stickers and rewards.

Spelling
Spelling is taught through our validated phonics scheme (Unlocking Letters and Sounds) in Key stage 1 and 2. This aligns and is included within the phonics progression. See our phonics page to view the progression document. In Key Stage 2 Spelling rules are taught each week and practise opportunities through additional activities are provided for. Children are given spelling lists to revise at home and teachers monitor engagement in this area regularly.

Extra and regular intervention of phonics/key words is undertaken by our teaching assistants, and may be structured as 1:1 or small group support.

Handwriting
In the Early Years, children learn to print letters following the Unlocking Letters and Sounds guidance. As children progress, they are explicitly taught how to form letters using pre-cursive and then cursive style. While most children can write consistently in this way, others may find this difficult and are supported to write fluently using print.