Writing
At Higher Lane, English is at the heart of our curriculum; it is the foundation on which every subject is built. We value reading and writing as key life skills and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers and writers, ensuring children read fluently and widely when they leave. The reading and writing journey begins in the Foundation Stage, where a multitude of learning activities are available for children to experience books, mark making and phonics, igniting a passion for these skills at an early age.
At the beginning of the year, the children are taught the Place Value of Punctation and Grammar to embed their grammar knowledge before moving on to extended writing. This is mapped across our key stages to ensure progression. In Autumn 2, our writing journey commences. Our writing journey ensures that children recap text types, genres and story structures in different year groups to build on previous skills: text-type specific features, grammar, punctuation and syntax. Units generally last three weeks and consist of a diagnostic task, text deconstruction using a model text, and contextualised teaching of grammar, punctuation and spelling based upon gaps identified from assessment for learning. In addition to this, the explicit instruction of grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax is delivered as prerequisite learning for each unit. Writing is then organised into sections and children use this application opportunity to cohesively organise new and existing grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax learning. Children are taught to edit and redraft their work before writing a final version, which is assessed to inform future planning.
Reading and writing, in collaboration with aspirational vocabulary, are taught during English lessons with the intention that skills acquired are then transferred to other subjects across the curriculum. Vocabulary is explicitly taught across the curriculum.
We celebrate National Poetry Day and World Book Day. We also welcome the Scholastic Book Fair into school each year to promote a love of reading within our families, whilst also continuously improving the reading materials available in school. These events unite the whole school to concentrate on one theme.