English – Writing
We follow the ‘Pathways to Write’ programme for English. Units of work are delivered using high quality texts and children in all year groups are given varied opportunities for writing. 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.
You will find the end of year expectations for writing, reading and spoken language for each of our year groups in the attached documents. For further detail on the skills that your children are learning on a termly basis, please contact your class teacher.
Overview of objectives Y1
Overview of objectives Y2
Overview of objectives Y3
Overview of objectives Y4
Overview of objectives Y5
Overview of objectives-Y6
See the progression document and text mapping below:
Feature Keys Progression
text mapping 2024 2025
Intent
At Mereside C of E Primary, our English Curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong love of language and learning. By developing strong communication skills, we prepare our pupils for success in our diverse and vibrant community and beyond, aligned with our school motto, “Learn to Love and Love to Learn.” Rooted in our Christian Values, we strive to foster the learning behaviours necessary for all children to thrive.
We recognise each child as unique, and our curriculum is ambitious for all learners, offering rich learning experiences, including trips, visitors, and a variety of enrichment activities. We are committed to creating a language-rich environment, enhanced by high-quality texts, displays, reading areas, working walls, and opportunities for drama and role play. Through adult modelling of spoken language and progression in language structures, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to flourish.
Implementation
Writing at Mereside C of E Primary is rooted in quality texts and meaningful, real-life experiences. “Book is the Hook” serves as the foundation of our writing approach. Pupils are immersed in a broad range of high-quality texts, exploring text structures and developing vocabulary. Knowledge, skills, and concepts are taught progressively and appropriately for each age group to deepen understanding as pupils advance through the school.
Our writing journey at Mereside C of E builds on pupils’ understanding of writing for different audiences and purposes, offering ample opportunities to explore various genres. Pupils are explicitly taught to plan, draft, compose, edit, and redraft their writing. We ensure exposure to rich and varied vocabulary, helping pupils understand word meanings, relationships between words, and grammatical features. Spelling strategies are taught separately and reinforced across all writing tasks.
Impact
The impact of our English curriculum is reflected in the progress pupils make in writing across all subjects. Formal assessments of independent writing are conducted every half term in years 1 to 6. To ensure accurate judgements, a variety of moderation exercises are carried out, including whole-school, Key Stage, and cross-school moderation.
The impact of our curriculum is assessed through triangulation of monitoring activities, including book scrutiny, learning walks, pupil voice, progress discussions, and data analysis. Through engaging lessons, we lay the foundation for pupils to become lifelong learners.
English – Spoken Language
Intent
At Mereside C of E Primary, our goal is to develop confident, expressive communicators by providing pupils, from Reception to Year 6, with regular opportunities to refine their spoken language skills. Our intent is to maximise the potential of all our pupils – socially, culturally, emotionally, morally and intellectually. We value performance as a way to build confidence and creativity, encouraging pupils to express themselves clearly, listen actively, and engage with their peers.
Implementation
Spoken language is a core part of our curriculum, with various opportunities for pupils to practise speaking and listening across all subjects. Across the primary phase, pupils build confidence through role play, drama, and class discussions. From EYFS to Year 6, pupils participate in performance poetry where they practise reading aloud with expression, rhythm and clarity. Year 6 students also create and present their own podcasts, further developing formal speech, and media production. Throughout all stages, teachers model spoken language and encourage pupils to engage in debates and collaborative learning.
Impact
The impact of our spoken language curriculum is seen in pupils’ increased confidence, fluency, and ability to express themselves clearly and thoughtfully. Through activities like performance poetry, the school nativity, and Year 6 podcasts, pupils develop communication skills and become more confident in presenting ideas. The impact is also reflected in improved collaboration, as pupils learn to work together, respect others’ opinions, and engage in meaningful dialogue, leaving Mereside as confident communicators prepared for life beyond school.
Spelling
Once they have completed the RWI program; children in Year 2 to Year 6 children follow the RWI program for spelling. This ensures that spelling patterns and rules, statutory words, common exception words and personal words are explicitly taught. RWI spelling teaches children in a little but often structure which allows children to re-visit and review, learn new strategies and apply.
Handwriting
In Reception and Year 1, children learn letter formation as part of their daily RWI Phonics session. Letter formation is supported through the use of simple rhymes:
Read Write Inc Handwriting Rhymes and Characters
Once they have mastered single letter formation, children follow the ‘Teach Handwriting’ program which aligns with RWI, our chosen Phonics program.
Teach handwriting is a systematic and progressive approach which is designed to support all children through to the end of Key Stage 2. Weekly taught sessions are underpinned by lots of opportunity to practise and apply. Engaging videos on our ‘Teach Handwriting’ school channel support our whole school approach to handwriting.
Teach Handwriting Joins