Writing

Intent:

In English, teaching is outstanding and children make consistent progress in their learning. High quality children’s literature from around the world inspires pupils to improve their own writing. The school library offers a wide range of excellent books and the children clearly enjoy their reading. Reading is modelled and promoted in all classrooms and a reading incentive displayed artfully at the front of the school (The Jelly Bean Challenge) focuses the children’s excitement for reading and makes them determined to excel. Parents are supported to read with their children: through the school website, reading is modelled which allows parents to confidently read with their children. Additional support including Reading Gladiators and Accelerated Reader programs ensure that all children have the opportunity to excel at this most vital of subjects. The curriculum provides high quality daily teaching of phonics where pupils are encouraged to transfer and use their knowledge and skills when they read and write in other lessons.

Within lessons, teachers are adept at using questions to deepen and extend learning. They check pupil’s progress during lessons regularly and intervene quickly if children need more help or more challenge. Pupils’ handwriting and presentation are of a consistently high standard and pupils write confidently for a range of different purposes and contexts. A consistent approach has been introduced which scaffolds pupils’ understanding of sentence structure. Pupils expect to be challenged in Burnham-on-Crouch: challenge is a part of daily life at the school. They are also given opportunity to challenge other ideas and debate and write about real-life issues. Teachers’ planning shows clear and progressive thought where all children have the opportunity to reach the higher standards. The use of drama, story-telling and real life scenarios as a stimulus creates excellent opportunities for writing. Pupils and staff alike are encouraged to take risks and this allows for outstanding teaching and learning across the school. As such pupils develop a rich vocabulary and a depth of learning in English. Children are encouraged to peer and self-evaluate their work and the use of their purple pen is clearly enjoyed by all pupils.

Pupils receive high-quality feedback on their work in line with the school’s marking policy. This is effective in helping pupils make thoughtful responses and improvements to their work. This feedback is instrumental in helping pupils make rapid gains in their learning. Assessment of English is both thorough and informative and has been vital in the school’s increased attainment in both key stages. Careful moderation ensures that assessments in writing are accurate and support is made available to staff.

Staff feel consistently well supported – from their own development, to support with assessment and marking – teachers consistently reported that they felt both accountable to, and supported by, their leadership team. Teachers receive high-quality continuing professional development opportunities and respond appropriately to them. Coaching is used very effectively to improve teaching on an individual basis. Staff share a desire to develop their practice in order to improve outcomes for pupils.