Curriculum Intent

At WGPS we believe that all children are capable of producing a high-quality written outcome that reflects the very best they can achieve. We aim to inspire all children to do this by delivering an engaging curriculum with enthusiastic teachers providing all children with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in all genres of writing as well as developing a genuine love of writing. We aim to promote the use of standard written and spoken English, provide pupils with a range of strategies to develop accurate spelling skills, develop confident, independent writers who value their own and others writing and develop creativity through writing across the curriculum. Through the use of shared writing and teacher modelling we demonstrate the writing process so pupils learn the journey from gathering ideas, planning, drafting, editing and publishing. We strive to make sure writing is a well-loved subject and that all members WGPS speak highly of itAt WGPS we believe that all children are capable of producing a high-quality written outcome that reflects the very best they can achieve. We aim to inspire all children to do this by delivering an engaging curriculum with enthusiastic teachers providing all children with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in all genres of writing as well as developing a genuine love of writing. We aim to promote the use of standard written and spoken English, provide pupils with a range of strategies to develop accurate spelling skills, develop confident, independent writers who value their own and others writing and develop creativity through writing across the curriculum. Through the use of shared writing and teacher modelling we demonstrate the writing process so pupils learn the journey from gathering ideas, planning, drafting, editing and publishing. We strive to make sure writing is a well-loved subject and that all members WGPS speak highly of it.

Curriculum content

Our writing curriculum is based on the National Curriculum objectives and are incorporated into the WGPS year group progression documents.

National curriculum in England: English programmes of study - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Curriculum Implementation

Writing is taught using the ‘Talk for Writing’ approach which is adapted to suit WGPS. We use whole school long term overviews used which map out skills and genre progression alongside ‘toolkit’ progression documents which are used to support planning of skills and knowledge. Non-negotiables are also used in each year group which set expectations for all pieces of writing. Five 1-hour sessions are taught with SPAG incorporated into lesson starters with weekly spellings introduced in separate sessions. Opportunities for writing across the curriculum are also planned for and help with assessment of writing and ensure knowledge and skills are secure. ‘Cold tasks’ are used to set targets and learning intentions for the upcoming unit with ‘Hot tasks’ used to celebrate learning. Fiction and non-fiction writing is taught over 3.5 weeks units which include approximately:

• 1.5 week of imitation to learn the genre and toolkit including ‘read as a reader’ and ‘read as a writer’
• 1 week of innovation to write a text together with teach modelling being the main focus (SPAG and specific genre toolkit skills developed further)
• 1 week of independent application for children to showcase their learning

Daily feedback and marking are given to pupils so they know next steps as per the WGPS marking policy (including verbal feedback where appropriate). Differentiation and scaffolding are provided for pupils who need support or who need to be challenged further.

Curriculum Impact

At Wooburn Green Primary School, our writing curriculum, rooted in the 'Talk for Writing' approach, has a profound impact on pupils’ development across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 1 (KS1), and Key Stage 2 (KS2). This approach fosters a love for writing, enabling children to become confident, articulate, and skilled writers who engage enthusiastically in English Writing lessons. Through 'Talk for Writing’, pupils develop strong oracy skills, which underpin their ability to internalise and manipulate language effectively. This strong foundation in oracy supports pupils in crafting high-quality written work across a diverse range of purposes, including both fiction and non-fiction. The impact of our curriculum is evident in the enjoyment pupils derive from writing lessons, where they engage eagerly with creative and purposeful tasks. Our approach ensures that children not only develop technical proficiency in grammar, punctuation, and spelling but also cultivate a genuine passion for expressing their ideas through writing. In 2025, our commitment to excellence in writing was reflected in the outcome of 90% of pupils attaining the expected standard in writing at the end of KS2. This success underscores the effectiveness of our 'Talk for Writing' approach in equipping pupils with the skills, confidence, and enthusiasm to excel as writers.

Assessment Information

Writing is assessed formatively by teachers with regular verbal and written feedback given to children to develop their learning. Each unit of work is planned for with the aim of a high-quality written outcome being produced. Teachers are then able to assess these 'hot tasks' to identify how much progress the children have made from the original 'cold task'. These extended pieces of writing are also assessed against year group expectations.