Writing rationale

What do we want to achieve and why do we want to achieve it?

At Wyre Forest School, we recognise that writing is a fundamental skill, which enables pupils to communicate, express emotions and share experiences. We offer differentiated provision to all pupils, presenting them with frequent opportunities to access writing opportunities at a level appropriate for them. A child’s interest must be piqued by the variety of writing and early writing opportunities that are introduced to them, in order to motivate them and cultivate their desire to write. In order for our pupils to begin to develop lifelong love for writing as the curriculum intends, fundamental opportunities for pupils to develop pre-writing skills and experiences allowing them to understand the world around them are essential.

Our aspiration is for every child to have a strong love of writing and have frequent opportunities to access high quality, differentiated resources to facilitate this.

 

Intent

We endeavour to encourage pupils to become creative, imaginative and confident writers. We believe that it is important to promote a positive attitude towards writing amongst all of our pupils to develop self-confidence and a sense of achievement. Our intent is for all pupils to experience daily opportunities to engage and develop their skills through well-adapted, structured lessons that are meaningful and motivating whilst ensuring the needs and abilities of all pupils are met. As a result of this, writing looks different within each pathway and the basic expectations of writing have been identified to enable all pupils the opportunity to experience writing at a level appropriate to their needs.

To promote high expectations of learning in writing, we aim to ensure that pupils:

• Use sensory strategies and pre-writing techniques to develop hand movements and fine motor skills and control.
• Use different textures and medias to explore mark making.
• Hold and use different writing implements to make their own marks.
• Use a wide range of strategies to develop sentences building skills, writing and composition.
• Are taught systematic fine motor skills; grasp and letter formation.
• Are taught a range of spelling strategies.
• Use of symbolised word mats / individual dictionaries to support confidence
• Are taught grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
• Develop compositional skills and encourage the enjoyment of writing.
• Progression of the development of writing skills and capability for all pupils, helping each pupil to achieve the highest standard of achievement.
• Creating a climate within school in which pupils use writing with purpose and enjoyment.
• Celebrating success in writing.

 

Implementation

How will we ensure pupils are making progress and achieving well in their learning of writing?

Pupils will learn to write through a range of multi-sensory approaches. Fine motor, mark making and writing skills are actively encouraged and developed at Wyre Forest School. Children are provided with a variety of opportunities to develop and refine their writing skills in a structured and safe environment. Staff will also recognise how the other strands within English will support learning in writing as well as its role within all subject curriculum documents.

Pupils will:

• Experience a total communication learning environment through use of strategies and aids such as PECS, VOCA, Widgit and Signalong.
• Immersion in text rich environments
• Use of real items that begin with that sound with symbols and images of the item to support/ match this.
• Taught new vocabulary and objects, can practice new sounds.
• Use of big macs, tactile letters, engaging in sensory play to develop fine motor skills.
• Opportunities to develop their gross and fine motor skills through interaction in a variety of sensory media with multi-sensory appeal to encourage and develop early writing skills.
• A range of multi sensory approaches-Write Dance, Dough Disco, Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle, Story Massage and sensory stories to develop fine and gross motor skills.
• Begin to link their phonic and reading to their marks and writing through the Wyre Forest Communication, Literacy and Language Phonics  (CLP) programme. Staff will engage pupils and develop their communication and language skills through singing songs, nursery rhymes and playing games. This will then link into a pupil’s writing.
• Work through the Read Write Inc programme and this is delivered systematically across the Pathways where it is relevant and appropriate at individual level.
• Use colourful semantics to check knowledge and understanding of sentence structure. This knowledge is then developed by introducing and encouraging use of words such as adjectives, noun phrases and connectives to enhance their writing.
• Use the Get Writing! Activities which follow the delivered phonics sounds of Read Write Inc to develop comprehension and writing for purpose.
• Encourage staff to model handwriting throughout the school day
• Where appropriate, pupils will work towards building a comfortable and correct tripod pencil grip. OT support to be followed for those pupils who require alternative writing tools.
• Staff will teach this through the ‘ Nip and Flip’ technique which enables pupils to pick up and hold their pencil in the comfortable, functional position.

 

Dynamic tripod grip
 

 

• For some pupils the focus moves onto spelling, punctuation and grammar to develop their knowledge of Standard English and provide them with the skills to ensure the meaning of sentences are interpreted correctly.
• Use their writing skills functionally, in real life situations. For example, our Post 14 and Sixth Form students will use their writing skills to write personal statements and application forms, create shopping lists, taking orders at the café or the registering at the local Zumba class.

 

Impact

How will we know pupils are learning well in writing?

Pupils have opportunities to write frequently to communicate, share information and for enjoyment and this is celebrated, encouraged and modelled by school adults. Pupil progress and attainment is measured through:

• WFS Progression Steps
• National Curriculum
• Reading tracker

 

Pupil achievement in their end of Year 11 outcomes, Functional Literacy and Pearson Edexcel Functional Skills English (where appropriate) also provides a measure of the impact in writing. Pupils are also well prepared for their transition to a post 16 provision and preparation for life after Wyre Forest School.

 

How we will know all pupils are learning well in writing?

All pupils are Wyre Forest School will be given opportunities to write. For some of our pupils to engage with writing as fully as they can, they require ‘alternative pencils’ or writing tools. With the guidance from OTs, pupils may have access to writing slopes, pencil grips, steady grip tools, Eye Gaze.

 

Measuring progress

How will we monitor pupils’ writing progress?

Every pupil’s progress will be recorded on the whole school assessment system ‘Evidence for Learning’. Class teams will collect photographic, video and observational evidence for every pupil.