At St Anthony’s, we believe that a high quality English curriculum should develop children’s love of reading, writing and discussion. We understand, in particular, the importance of the written word and its role in inspiring children and unlocking their potential across the whole curriculum. We believe that writing is a key skill for life, and therefore that a secure grounding in the written word is crucial within a high quality education. We recognise the importance of nurturing a culture in which children take pride in their writing, can write clearly, and accurately, and adapt their language and style for a range of contexts. To do this, we believe that children need to develop a secure knowledge base, following a clear path of progression as they advance through the primary years. Recognising this, our writing curriculum is based on the ‘Pathways to Write’ scheme.

Units of work are delivered using high quality texts, and children in all year groups are given varied opportunities for writing. The units of work are adapted by our teachers for bespoke delivery to their classes, based on each year group’s individual needs. Skills are built up through repetition within the units, and children apply these skills in the writing activities provided. Many opportunities for widening children’s vocabulary are given through the ‘Pathways to Write’ approach, and this builds on the extensive work we do in school to provide our children with a rich and varied vocabulary.

• develop an effective writing posture
• be able to apply handwriting practice across the curriculum
• enjoy exploring a handwriting style
• foster pride in their work and presentation