Our Bespoke Writing Curriculum

English Writing Curriculum

Intent

At Crow Orchard Primary School, we believe that every child has the right to become a confident, articulate and accomplished writer. Our ambition is for every pupil, regardless of their starting point, to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to communicate effectively, think critically and express themselves with purpose, creativity and precision.

Our writing curriculum is fully aligned with the National Curriculum (2014) and has been carefully refined to reflect the principles and expectations of the Department for Education's Writing Framework (2025). It is underpinned by the latest evidence-informed practice, ensuring that children receive explicit, systematic teaching of the essential components of writing while also developing a genuine enjoyment of the craft.

The curriculum has been deliberately designed as a coherent, progressive journey from the Early Years to Year 6. Knowledge, vocabulary, grammar, composition, handwriting, spelling and transcription are carefully sequenced so that children build secure foundations before applying their learning with increasing independence, fluency and sophistication. Retrieval, deliberate practice and carefully planned opportunities to revisit prior learning ensure that knowledge is retained and built upon over time.

High-quality literature sits at the heart of our curriculum. Carefully chosen texts expose children to ambitious vocabulary, diverse authors, rich language structures and a broad range of experiences beyond their own. These texts provide meaningful contexts that inspire curiosity, stimulate imagination and deepen children's understanding of the wider world.

Writing at Crow Orchard is purposeful and authentic. Children write for real audiences and meaningful outcomes across the curriculum, enabling them to understand the power of language to inform, persuade, entertain, explain and advocate. They are explicitly taught how to make deliberate choices as writers, selecting vocabulary, sentence structures and organisational features appropriate to purpose and audience.

We recognise that exceptional writing begins with confident talk and extensive reading. Therefore, our curriculum is built upon the interconnected disciplines of speaking, listening, reading and writing, ensuring that children develop the language, background knowledge and vocabulary necessary to become successful communicators.

Teaching is characterised by explicit modelling, carefully sequenced learning, high-quality discussion, guided practice and purposeful independent application. Teachers use assessment diagnostically to identify misconceptions, adapt teaching and provide precise support or challenge, ensuring that all pupils—including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils—can access an ambitious curriculum and achieve success.

Our ambition extends beyond academic outcomes. We want children to see themselves as authors whose voices matter. By nurturing creativity, resilience and independence, we develop writers who take pride in their work, confidently refine and improve their ideas, and understand that writing has the power to influence, connect and inspire others.

Ultimately, our curriculum equips children with the knowledge, vocabulary and cultural capital needed to flourish in the next stage of their education and beyond. Rooted in our core values of Love, Growth and Strength, we cultivate writers who approach every challenge with confidence, every opportunity with curiosity and every piece of writing with purpose and pride.

Alongside our carefully sequenced, high-quality writing spine, children are immersed in a rich range of non-fiction texts, classic literature and contemporary poetry. These carefully selected texts broaden children's knowledge, deepen their understanding of the wider curriculum and expose them to diverse authors, perspectives and writing styles. By studying both timeless classics and modern works, pupils develop an appreciation of literary heritage while engaging with texts that reflect the world they live in today. This balanced approach ensures children experience a rich and varied literary diet that develops vocabulary, background knowledge, cultural capital and a genuine love of reading and writing.

We use a two year cycle for mixed aged classes.