Reading and Writing

Writing

In Reception, Years 1 and 2 children’s writing lessons are based on a book for fiction writing and a non-fiction model text for non-fiction writing. The lessons are planned and taught using the Talk for Writing Approach. Children learn a model text and use this as a model to write their own.  

In Years 3 to 6, children’s writing lessons are integrated through a class novel study. Non-fiction, poetry and extracts have been chosen to add depth to the novel study and support the development of grammatical knowledge and writing skills. During writing lessons, sections of the novel and/or supporting non-fiction and poetry texts are used along with ‘model’ texts to build children’s knowledge and vocabulary. 

Writing for a Purpose teaches children about the 4 main types of writing; Writing to Entertain, Writing to Inform, Writing to Persuade and Writing to Discuss.  The pupils focus on commonalities between text types rather than children learning 10 or more different ‘genres’.  By the end of KS2, pupils will be confident to write for all purposes and will be aware that, for example, a newspaper article could fall under any or all of the headings.  

Handwriting

We use the Read Write Inc handwriting scheme to develop handwriting in our pupils from Reception to Year 6. Any child who continues to require further support for handwriting is picked up in additional sessions throughout the day.

Reading

At Swindon Academy we use a book-based approach at EYFS and Key Stage 1 and a Novel Study approach at Key Stage 2. In Reception and Key Stage 1 our writing curriculum is based on a book each term and writing opportunities are linked to the text. At Key Stage 2, English is taught through separate reading and writing lessons. However, there are explicit links between the lessons on the text and extracts from the texts are used to support their writing and to develop their reading skills.

In EYFS and KS1 we follow Read Write Inc to teach the children a systematic approach to reading. From Year 1 we supplement our reading curriculum with Daily Supportive Reading.  Children enjoy daily independent reading in small groups matched to their independent reading level, led by a trained adult. In Key Stage 2 we use novels to support and develop a love of reading, whilst also developing children’s reading skills and fluency.