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At Millbrook Combined School, our Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 writing curriculum is underpinned by the Leading English writing programme. This carefully sequenced programme is fully aligned with the National Curriculum and designed to ensure every pupil becomes a confident, capable communicator who can express themselves clearly, creatively, and with purpose, both verbally and in writing, while developing a love for writing that they can carry into the future.
Aims:
We aim for all pupils to:
Develop as confident, skilled writers who enjoy writing.
Write effectively for a range of purposes and audiences.
Acquire and apply a rich, ambitious vocabulary.
Use accurate grammar, punctuation, and spelling (SPaG) consistently.
Build independence in planning, drafting, revising, editing, and reflecting on their writing.
Apply literacy skills across subjects and real-world contexts.
Make strong progress from starting points, supported through targeted scaffolds or interventions.
Core Principles:
Our English curriculum is designed to:
Develop confident, skilled communicators.
Follow a structured, progressive approach that builds on prior learning.
Place strong emphasis on vocabulary acquisition and accurate spelling.
Provide clear writing sequences and purposeful writing opportunities.
Expose pupils to a wide range of high-quality model texts to inspire and inform their writing.
Build a love for writing by making it accessible and engaging for all pupils.
High-Quality Model Texts:
Model texts are central to every Leading English unit:
Demonstrate excellent writing across fiction and non-fiction genres.
Showcase key writing devices, features, and techniques.
Provide aspirational standards for pupils to emulate.
Support pupils’ understanding of text types, purposes, and audiences.
Enhance comprehension by helping pupils recognise structure, style, and language patterns.
Support pupils in writing for specific audiences effectively.
Vocabulary Development and Literacy Acquisition:
Vocabulary teaching is explicit and systematic. In every unit, we:
Teach Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary in knowledge-rich contexts.
Build a robust language foundation for reading, writing, and oracy across all subjects.
Teach statutory word lists to strengthen spelling and reading fluency.
Revisit and embed vocabulary across units to ensure long-term retention.
Systematic Sequencing of Knowledge and Skills:
Our writing curriculum follows a carefully planned, progressive sequence from Year 1 to Year 6:
Develop strong foundations in handwriting, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and composition.
Provide clear writing sequences, including preparatory writing opportunities before final pieces.
Ensure pupils are exposed to high-standard texts to set expectations for their own writing.
Revisit and deepen prior learning to secure long-term understanding and transferable skills.
Knowledge-Rich Contexts and Cross-Curricular Links:
Each unit is designed around engaging, meaningful, real-world contexts that:
Inspire curiosity and build cultural capital.
Connect reading, writing, and spoken language.
Support cross-curricular links aligned with the Cornerstones curriculum.
Encourage pupils to apply literacy skills to authentic, real-world communication.
Assessment:
At the end of each unit, pupils complete a final independent piece of writing assessed against clear, unit-specific criteria:
Identify areas of strength and development for each pupil.
Inform future teaching and ensure pupils receive targeted support.
Track progress to ensure pupils meet or exceed curriculum expectations.
EYFS:
Our EYFS curriculum aligns with the National Curriculum, providing a smooth transition into KS1. Pupils develop early writing skills through supported and independent creative writing opportunities.
Handwriting:
Pupils are taught handwriting using the Penpals handwriting scheme, developing a fluent and legible cursive style. Teachers model and scaffold handwriting explicitly.
Spelling:
(To be updated October 2025) – The spelling curriculum will outline a systematic approach to teaching rules, patterns, and strategies for independent, accurate spelling.
We implement our writing curriculum through a structured, consistent approach, ensuring all pupils make sustained progress over time.
Teaching Approach:
Each Leading English unit follows a step-by-step cycle:
Introduction & Immersion – Explore model text, purpose, audience, and key vocabulary.
Explicit Teaching – Teach SPaG and writing skills in meaningful, real-world contexts.
Guided Practice – Shared/group writing to model and scaffold pupils’ writing.
Independent Application – Pupils plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish a final piece.
Other features include:
Modelled and Shared Writing: “I do – we do – you do” scaffolding.
Visual Support: Images, worked examples, and classroom displays to promote independence.
Scaffolding: Word banks, sentence stems, and writing frames support confidence.
Guided and Independent Writing: Opportunities for pair, group, and independent writing.
Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary in Context: Skills taught in meaningful, authentic contexts.
Feedback & Editing: Regular verbal and written feedback with structured editing.
Drama & Oracy: Role-play, hot-seating, and discussion enhance understanding.
Retrieval and Plenaries: Lessons start with review and end with reflection to consolidate learning.
ASPIRE Values: Embedded into units to reinforce perseverance, creativity, responsibility, and collaboration.
Progression and Consistency:
Whole-School Progression Map: Ensures age-appropriate skill development across year groups.
Consistency Across Classes: Central planning ensures all pupils cover high-quality content.
Cross-Curricular Writing: Links to Cornerstones curriculum enhance subject connections.
Teacher Development:
Professional Development (CPD): Enhances subject knowledge and pedagogy.
Weekly Workshops: Support staff with curriculum questions and challenges.
Moderation: Internal and external moderation ensures assessment accuracy.
Coaching: Supports teachers to deliver high-quality writing instruction.
Implementation Team: Monitors delivery and develops staff expertise in writing.
The impact of the writing curriculum is measured by pupils’ ability to communicate clearly, confidently, and creatively, and by staff confidence in teaching writing.
Pupil Outcomes:
Meet or exceed age-related expectations in writing.
Produce high-quality writing across fiction and non-fiction genres.
Demonstrate independence in planning, drafting, revising, and editing.
Take pride in their work and see themselves as authors.
Develop confidence and a writing toolkit for creative and academic tasks.
Feel prepared for secondary school literacy demands.
Staff Outcomes:
Staff feel confident and skilled in teaching writing.
Teaching is consistent across year groups, ensuring equity.
High expectations drive improved pupil outcomes.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
Final Pieces: Assessed against clear criteria aligned to curriculum and unit expectations.
Pupil Voice: Gathers feedback to ensure lessons are engaging and pitched correctly.
Staff Voice: Collects teacher feedback to refine support and resources.
Learning Walks and Work Scrutinises: Ensure high standards and consistency.
Coaching: Supports teachers based on monitoring feedback.
Data Analysis: Termly attainment data tracks progress and identifies gaps.
Celebration of Writing:
Writing is showcased in classrooms and online.
Whole-school events and competitions reinforce pride and motivation.
Curriculum Review:
The writing curriculum is regularly reviewed to reflect:
Staff and pupil feedback.
Attainment and progress data.
Best practice and curriculum developments, including the October 2025 spelling update.
Through this cycle of teaching, reflection, assessment, celebration, and continuous improvement, Millbrook Combined School ensures every pupil develops the skills, confidence, and love of writing needed for success in school and beyond.