At The Grange, we strive to promote a Writing culture and build cohesion between Phonics, Spelling, Reading and Writing. We understand that to formulate strong writers, students need to be given the materials to express their thoughts and access their full creative potential. We develop foundations of phonics, reading and spelling which in turn provide the tools to progress each child as a writer. Writing is taught daily across the school.
The aim of The Grange CP School writing approach is to:
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have consistency of approach and progression through Foundation Stage to Year 6
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motivate children to write encouraging them positively to experiment and improve their work
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provide the children with a stimulating writing environment surrounded by print in a variety of forms and contexts
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teach a full range of writing strategies, including spelling, grammar, sentence structure and composition;
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reflect best-practice models and recent case studies. For example:
Term 3 Whole School Writing Project
Term 3 Whole School Writing Project: Flood by Alvaro F. Villa
At The Grange Community Primary School, we are thrilled to announce our latest whole-school writing project inspired by the beautifully illustrated and thought-provoking book, Flood by Alvaro F. Villa. This visually stunning wordless picture book tells the story of a family facing the devastating impact of a natural disaster, exploring themes of resilience, community, and recovery.
Each class has its own depiction of the front cover of the book – painted by adults at school – this is Ms Boswell’s!
What is the Writing Project About?
Our aim is to ignite creativity, inspire empathy, and develop writing skills across all year groups. Using the rich illustrations and powerful narrative of Flood, pupils will explore various aspects of writing, including descriptive language, storytelling, persuasive writing, and poetry. Each year group will approach the story from a unique perspective, showcasing their interpretation and creativity.
Whole-School Objective for Improving Creative Writing
Objective:
To enhance pupils' creative writing skills by fostering imagination, developing a rich and varied vocabulary, and equipping pupils with the tools to confidently express their ideas through structured, engaging, and imaginative written work.
Key Focus Areas:
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Inspiration and Imagination:
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Provide stimulating writing prompts, texts, and cross-curricular themes to spark creativity.
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Encourage pupils to explore diverse perspectives, genres, and styles in their writing.
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Vocabulary Development:
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Expand pupils’ descriptive language through targeted vocabulary instruction and exposure to high-quality literature.
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Integrate word banks and thesaurus use to encourage adventurous word choices.
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Writing Techniques and Structure:
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Teach pupils to craft engaging openings, build compelling narratives, and conclude their work effectively.
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Focus on literary devices such as imagery, personification, similes, and metaphors to enrich their writing.
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Audience and Purpose:
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Develop pupils’ understanding of writing for different audiences and purposes, including stories, poetry, persuasive pieces, and reflective writing.
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Provide opportunities to share and celebrate writing, such as through school displays, publications, and performances.
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Confidence and Ownership:
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Build pupils’ confidence by fostering a growth mindset, celebrating effort and improvement, and providing constructive feedback.
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Encourage peer collaboration and editing to refine and improve writing outcomes.
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Success Criteria:
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Increased engagement and enthusiasm for creative writing across all year groups.
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Improvement in pupils’ ability to produce structured, imaginative, and detailed pieces of writing.
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Evidence of enriched vocabulary and application of literary techniques in pupils’ work.
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Positive pupil, parent, and teacher feedback on writing progress and outcomes.
Learning Objectives
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Enhance Creativity: Encourage pupils to craft their own narratives based on the visual prompts in the book.
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Develop Writing Skills: Focus on vocabulary enrichment, sentence structure, and the use of literary techniques like personification and imagery.
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Foster Empathy: Help pupils understand the emotional impact of a natural disaster on individuals and communities.
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Encourage Cross-Curricular Links: Tie writing activities to subjects like geography (flooding and climate change), art (illustration and symbolism), and PSHE (resilience and community support).
