Curriculum Intent

At Harcourt Primary School, we recognise that writing is a fundamental skill for learning, communication, and self-expression. Our aim is to empower all children to become confident, articulate, and effective communicators. Writing is not only essential for academic success, but also a powerful tool for creativity, critical thinking, and making sense of the world. 

Our writing journey begins with a strong foundation in the Early Years, where children are immersed in language-rich environments and develop early skills in mark-making, oral composition, and fine motor control. From this solid start, children move through a progressive curriculum that builds knowledge and skills year on year. 

Our writing curriculum is designed to nurture imagination, encourage innovation, and help children develop a strong sense of identity as authors. We want our pupils to see themselves as writers with something valuable to say. 

Our Writing Curriculum Aims to Develop Children’s Writing Through: 

• Exposure to high-quality model texts across a range of genres, enabling children to understand the features, structure and purpose of different types of writing 

• Explicit, planned vocabulary teaching across all subjects, helping children use rich and precise language in their writing 

• Opportunities to write for real audiences and purposes, both within and beyond the English curriculum 

• Effective scaffolding techniques such as sentence starters, word banks, Clicker tools and story maps, gradually reduced as children become more independent 

• Regular oral rehearsal and discussion, allowing children to explore and shape their ideas before writing 

• Systematic teaching of grammar, supporting children in using it accurately and purposefully within their writing 

• Time for self-evaluation, editing and peer feedback, encouraging children to take ownership of and pride in improving their work 

• Mastery of spelling, including both statutory word lists and subject-specific (Tier 3) vocabulary 

• High expectations for handwriting and presentation, fostering pride and a sense of achievement in their written work 

We are committed to providing high-quality learning experiences that develop children’s competence in both transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (planning, structuring and articulating ideas). Our teaching ensures children can: 

• Plan, write, revise and evaluate their work effectively 

• Write fluently and legibly, with increasing speed and stamina 

• Spell words accurately by understanding phonics, morphology and etymology 

• Organise their ideas coherently, with a clear awareness of purpose, audience and context 

• Apply a growing vocabulary and secure knowledge of grammar confidently in their writing 

By developing these skills, through a sequenced and progressive curriculum, we aim to ensure that every child at Harcourt Primary School leaves us as a capable and enthusiastic writer—ready to succeed across the curriculum, express themselves with clarity, and engage meaningfully with the world around them. 

National Curriculum - Purpose of study - English

English has a pre-eminent place in education and in society. A high-quality education in English will teach pupils to speak and write fluently so that they can communicate their ideas and emotions to others and through their reading and listening, others can communicate with them. Through reading in particular, pupils have a chance to develop culturally, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Literature, especially, plays a key role in such development. Reading also enables pupils both to acquire knowledge and to build on what they already know. All the skills of language are essential to participating fully as a member of society; pupils, therefore, who do not learn to speak, read and write fluently and confidently are effectively disenfranchised.

Aims

The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment.

The national curriculum for English aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding
• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language
• appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
• write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences
• use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
• Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and participating in debate