Writing
Dane Royd Writers
Imagine, Create, Share
Welcome to our writing page!
I am Mrs Greenwood and I am the Writing Leader in school.
I have always enjoyed writing as it is an outlet of creativity for me. I studied English Literature and Creative Writing at University and I am very passionate about the benefits writing can have for young people. I love teaching Writing at Dane Royd and hope to instil in our students a love for this subject.
Mrs Greenwood
Writing Lead
Intent - What do we want for our children in writing?
At Dane Royd Junior and Infant School, we believe that writing is a crucial part of the curriculum and is fundamental to children’s educational success. It provides the children with fundamental skills for the future, therefore, we intend to provide our children with many opportunities to develop and apply their writing skills across the curriculum.
We want all of our children to be able communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions creatively through their writing. To do this they need to be able to write clearly, accurately and coherently, and to be able to manipulate their vocabulary and grammar choices appropriately depending on the context, purpose or audience.
We believe that presentation is an important aspect of writing – if the children show pride in their work, high-quality content is reflected.
We use ‘meaty’ books in every year group, which are more challenging than a book that the majority would read independently, in order to expose the children to high level vocabulary. We feel that this opens up the door for discussions on word origin, word meaning, figurative language and authorial choice.
Teachers plan writing outcomes linked to the class novel. Children are exposed to a range of genres and text types across a unit of work, which will not only assist in motivating them to read and write, but it will also reflect in their ability to write for a range of audiences and purposes.
In addition to this, our children will explore spelling patterns and rules, and will be taught how to use a dictionary independently to check the spelling of ambitious words.
All in all, we plan to ensure that the children at Dane Royd receive a well-rounded English curriculum, which stands them in good stead for their future adult life.
Implement - How will we achieve this?
At Dane Royd, we want our children to be confident, capable writers, who understand the value of English to them throughout their education and in their future.
Writing involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition. Transcription skills need to be secure in order for our pupils to be able to write creatively. As such, fluent transcription skills are a focus for Early Years and Year 1. Teachers in these year groups dictate sentences for children to write which allow them opportunities to practise and apply their spelling knowledge and segmenting skills, before composing sentences by themselves.
Handwriting is taught daily in KS1, LKS2, and for those who need it, UKS2. With repeated practise in handwriting we aim for children to become fluent in this skill.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar skills are taught explicitly each week, as well as being woven into the writing lessons, in order to ensure that the children are applying their SPAG skills appropriately. Punctuation and grammar skills are taught in a logical, progressive sequence within each year group. Teachers use the punctuation and grammar progression map as a tool to plan writing outcomes that will lend themselves well to the writing skill that they intend for the children to develop.
Writing composition is mostly taught through the use of high-quality texts in each year group, which are chosen by the class teacher, taking into consideration the history and geography topic to ensure pupils write about the curriculum content they have studied.
At Dane Royd, we know the value of excellent vocabulary, and this is developed and practiced across our English curriculum.
The teaching of Writing follows a processed approach where pupils learn to plan, draft, revise and edit their writing. Teachers plan in opportunities for children to edit and improve their writing, taking into consideration the SPAG element that they are focusing on that week.
We promote the importance of written work and enable children to see themselves as authors and poets, by displaying good examples of writing in every classroom and on corridor displays. Also, children have the opportunity to read their creative writing out loud, in front of an audience, in class assemblies. In addition to this, throughout the school year the children are given a context to their learning by being provided with exciting opportunities such as entering national writing competitions and writing poetry to share at a poetry recital. We strongly believe that opportunities like this improve children’s learning.
We know that at Dane Royd Junior and Infant School our children are inspired to write and that they are provided with the tools that they need to develop the stamina and ability to write at and exceed the age-related standard.
Impact - What difference will it make to our children?
The writing curriculum at Dane Royd Junior and Infant school is high-quality and demonstrates clear progression. Children at Dane Royd can understand and apply the fundamental principles of spelling, punctuation and grammar in their writing. Our children are creative writers, who understand the importance of editing, improving and redrafting their writing. Our curriculum provides regular opportunities for children to apply the writing skills that they have acquired in English, which aids the children in understanding and remembering more of what they are taught. We are preparing our children to be lifelong writers by ensuring that learning is sustained and that the writing skills that they acquire are transferable and travel with them as they grow and develop beyond their school life.
I like writing because I can use my imagination and write about how I feel.
- Samuel, Year 2
Writing lessons are really fun! I love watching short films to inspire what I write.
- Poppy, Year 3
I love writing because I love how creative it lets me be!
- Lucy, Year 5
Want to help at home?
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Get talking - getting children to express themselves in conversation is fantastic practice for expressing themselves in writing. Conversation allows children to learn new ideas, vocabulary and grammar. After trying out new language while talking, children are better prepared to use it in their writing.
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Read aloud to your child whatever their age. Reading to your child exposes them to new vocabulary, ideas and worlds which will transform their writing.
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Provide opportunities for your child to practise their spellings when they are sent home each week.
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Find opportunities for your child to write for different purposes, for example, a letter or email to grandparents, shopping lists, recipes, little notes, greeting cards, making little books and stories and keeping a diary.
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Celebrate your child’s work and achievements at every possible chance. Promote taking pride in their work.
What's On?
National Shakespeare Week: 18th - 24th March
Summer Writing Projects
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Write an article about something you are interested in that is taking place in the news at the moment.
Interview relatives about their experiences growing up. Write their stories into a family journal.
Write a review about your favourite computer game.
Create a comic!
Write a letter to a character in your favourite book.
Write a poem about Autumn.
This year, to celebrate National Storytelling Week at the beginning of February, our whole school wrote a story together. Each class wrote a different part of the story. UFS chose the setting, which was a desert island, and the characters, who were a Princess and a Wizard. We loved listening to the final story in Celebration Assembly. Read our whole school story below!
Once upon a time on a faraway desert island there lived a beautiful princess called Peony, but she had a secret, she was wicked! On the same faraway desert island, there lived a wizard called Wilf who loved nothing more than casting magic spells with his sparkly wand.
Peony had long, flowing brown hair with a bright gold encrusted crown . Peony could wrap herself around the tall, leafy trees like camouflage. Peony couldn’t wait to cast her spell to turn Wilf into a black, shiny lizard.
One day, Peony stumbled across Wilf practicing his own spells with his sparkly wand. “Abracadabra!” shouted Peony, waving her own wand. Pink and blue sparks exploded from the end of her wand like fireworks. They shot across the desert island but instead of hitting Wilf, they hit a tall palm tree instead. Bouncing off the tree trunk, the spell changed direction and hit Peony right on the forehead. As quick as a flash, Peony was suddenly a black, shiny lizard. “Oh no!” thought Peony.
Wondering where Peony had suddenly disappeared to, Wilf spun around, nearly standing on her! Peony was terrified as Wilf continued to search for her because she knew that being a teeny tiny lizard meant she could be squashed at any moment. Crack! Without warning, Wilf had stood on Peony’s powerful wand. Vibrant, colourful sparks began to fly out of the wand and landed all over the island itself, causing the island to begin to change...
The island turned black. Huge raindrops began to fall. The sand was swept up in vicious winds and the tops of the palm trees shuck violently. Terrified animals scuttled back into their homes. Wilf was petrified. What was happening? Where was Peony?
Darkness encompassed the previous island of paradise, bringing with it rain, like a silver curtain, which veiled the beach below in an impenetrable darkness. The sky began to shake and rumble as a vague shape of a crown was illuminated by the lightning. Wilf, with a perplexed expression spreading across his face, didn’t know why but he felt a surge of bravery coursing through him.
Up above, in the gloom-ladened sky, a bellowing voice echoed around. "Wilf, listen closely," the voice whispered, sending shivers down his spine. "To save Princess Peony from her current state, you must find a crown and destroy it. Only then will she be returned to her true form."
Wilf's eyes widened with determination. "But where can I find this crown?" he asked, his voice trembling.
The voice paused for a moment before replying, "Seek the enchanted cave hidden deep in the heart of the forest. There, you will find the crown that holds the power to save Princess Peony."
Wilf knew, if he wanted everything to go back to normal, he would have to obey the commands and destroy the crown. And so, with grit and determination in his eyes, he began his perilous journey.
Confidently and swiftly, Wilf stepped into the dark, enchanted forest. The dusty ground beneath him shook violently, and Wilf, in horror, began to sprint deeper into the heart of the forest. For hours, whilst frantically looking for the cave, Wilf faced the many challenges of the forest: endless pools of deadly quicksand, colossal trees collapsing and swarms of deadly, horrifying bees. Suddenly, through the barrage of trees, a multicoloured, radiating light pierced through the gaps in the forest and a cacophony of voices whispered ominously to turn back. But Wilf took no notice, and he journeyed on.
After hours of searching, Wilf’s journey was finally over; he was standing at his final destination – the cave. The entrance to the cave was shaped like a giant serpent’s head with blinding, blazing fireballs for eyes. Inside, the most atrocious stench hit Wilf’s nose and then…a loud crash. Something had fallen. The cave exit was blocked. “No!” bellowed Wilf, but a hissing sound from behind him stopped him in his tracks. As a quick as a flash, Wilf spun to see his worst nightmare – an immense snake. Stuck between its fangs sat the pristine, golden crown.
“Looking for something?” hissed the snake.
Wilf opened his mouth, but before he could reply, a black, shiny lizard scuttled past his feet and sunk its fangs into the snake’s jet-black skin. In excruciating agony, the colossal beast ferociously bit down and crushed the crown, which shattered to the ground in pieces.
“You win, Peony!” cried the snake as it turned into ashes.
In a swirl of black scales, the tiny lizard grew into the Peony that Wilf remembered.
“You saved my life, Wilf, and so I promise to no longer be the evil princess I was before.”
