Our writing curriculum is designed specifically for the unique context of Beenham Primary School. We want every child to experience the joy and wonder of high‑quality texts that spark imagination, deepen understanding and help them see both themselves and others in the texts they encounter. Through rich literature, explicit skills teaching and purposeful opportunities to read, write and speak, children develop confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of language.

Our writing curriculum is closely aligned with our whole‑school enquiry approach. Each enquiry question is supported by carefully chosen texts that immerse children in the language, vocabulary and lived experience of the topic, enabling them to make meaningful connections across subjects. This coherence strengthens children’s understanding, enriches their communication and ensures that every learner is supported to achieve success.

What writing looks like at Beenham

Please see our Long-Term writing plans at the bottom of this page.

Our aim is to develop confident, thoughtful and purposeful writers who understand the power of written language and can communicate with clarity, creativity and purpose.

• Writing is taught through rich literature, explicit skills teaching and meaningful opportunities to read, write and speak.
• Each unit sits within the class enquiry and uses an anchor text to immerse children in vocabulary, ideas, structure and the lived experience of the topic.
• Children learn that writing is communication: they consider what they are writing, who will read it, why it is being written and the effect they want it to have.
• Teachers explicitly teach the knowledge and skills needed for the outcome.
• Children are shown how writers work: explore, analyse, plan, draft, edit, present and evaluate.
• Writing is assessed in the moment. Feedback is immediate and purposeful, and end-of-unit assessment identifies the next precise step.
• Spelling, grammar, punctuation and handwriting are taught as essential tools for successful composition, not as disconnected activities.

The anchor text and the enquiry question

The anchor text is the foundation of each unit. It is not simply a stimulus or a book read alongside writing; it is the source from which children encounter the vocabulary, ideas, structures and authorial choices that they will later draw upon.

Early Writing

Early writing at Beenham Primary School is built on strong foundations that enable children to become confident, motivated and capable young writers. We use Monster Phonics to teach children the relationship between sounds and corresponding graphemes, ensuring they develop secure phonological awareness from the very beginning. Alongside this, children are supported to establish the fundamental physical skills needed for writing, including correct pencil grip, core and shoulder strength, and refined fine‑motor control.

Children practise accurate letter formation throughout phonics lessons, writing sessions and continuous provision. Our learning environment offers a wide range of multisensory activities, from mark‑making in sand to painting large‑scale shapes, that help children internalise letter formation and develop fluency in their early writing movements.

To nurture meaningful and joyful early writing, we use Drawing Club. Teaching delivered through Drawing Club is highly engaging, imaginative and designed to spark a love of writing in our youngest learners. Children discover stories, respond to rich stimuli and begin to express their ideas through emerging writing. They draw on the sounds and graphemes learnt in phonics lessons, applying their growing knowledge in purposeful and creative ways.

Children’s progress in early writing is assessed in the moment by adults, enabling responsive support and immediate feedback. Each child has an individual target that reflects their next step in development, and adults work closely with them to review and secure these foundational skills. We place strong emphasis on ensuring children have mastered the essential knowledge, physical skills and phonics understanding required for writing before they move into Key Stage 1.

Through this carefully structured, nurturing approach, children develop confidence, independence and a genuine enjoyment of writing, laying the groundwork for sustained success as they progress through the school.