Writing at Healdswood

“We know that linguistically children can’t write sentences unless they can say them and they can’t say a sentence unless they hear them a lot,” (Pie Corbett)

At Healdswood Infant and Nursery School, our intent is that children will:

• be excited and motivated to read, write and express themselves; are explicitly taught vocabulary so they have the knowledge and words to be highly effective communicators
• be provided with a rich and imaginative curriculum
• be exposed to a wide variety of engaging texts 
• be confident using oracy in daily lessons to support communication and language, which is crucial to writing application 
• build and internalise a well known story that supports them in developing their imagination, vocabulary, writing techniques and confidence
• be taught phonics via the ELS scheme which is applies throughout writing 
• be exposed to high quality reading and writing via clear modelling of the skills and techniques for being a confident reader and writer
• be routinely taught high quality handwriting sessions where children can form letters correctly which are presented neatly when writing across all subject areas

We follow the principles and processes of the Talk for Writing scheme (founded by Pie Corbett) as a whole school to deliver the writing curriculum. This is tailored and adapted to suit the needs of our individual setting and children. Talk for Writing is the exploration, through talk, of the thinking and creative processes involved in being a writer.

The primary elements of this include: 

Immersion – Hook, creative context, exploring the story

Imitation – Getting to know the text, oracy heavy, deepening understanding 

Innovation – Create a new version 

Independent Application – Writing independently 

Grammar is taught explicitly through Talk for Writing, as knowledge is best internalised when taught within a familiar context. The approach moves from dependence towards independence, with the teacher as an expert model of the writing process in shared writing sessions, moving toward independence. There are regular opportunities for children’s writing to be celebrated. 

In Early Years, writing opportunities are provided to the children to encourage them to write captions, labels, familiar phrases or sections of a story using the scaffold of the text, and are also provided with opportunities for child initiated and role-play writing. At Healdswood we believe that speaking and listening form the foundations of all learning in our curriculum. We create and facilitate opportunities for speaking and listening, discussion and talk around learning and encourage pupils to be inquisitive.

Talk for Writing is an inclusive approach to the teaching of writing and allows all children to access the writing curriculum. The actions and focus on oral rehearsal before writing means that all children are able to access aspirational and challenging texts. The success that our SEND children have in writing is testament to this approach and the quality teaching of writing.

The impact of the approach we use to teach writing is that children at Healdswood Infant and Nursery School see themselves as successful authors. They are able to speak articulately using the vocabulary they have learnt and this impacts the vocabulary choices used in their writing. Through the implementation of T4W in our curriculum, our children are developing a passion for writing as evidenced by the children’s engagement and enthusiasm for writing.

 

Early Writing

Opportunities for mark making

Opportunities for children to develop their gross and fine motor skills underpin our curriculum, environment and interactions at Healdswood. We stray away from ‘only writing at tables’ and build it into our continuous provision.  Children are supported both indoor and outdoor to develop the muscles needed for writing as well as the opportunity to 'have a go' at mark making through different medium.    The photos below show our Nursery children taking part in a variety of mark making activities throughout the indoor and outdoor provision.