Intent

Our intent is to cultivate enthusiastic and confident writers who can effectively communicate their ideas, thoughts, and feelings for a variety of purposes and audiences. Through engaging and inquiry-based experiences, we aim to develop children’s writing skills, fostering a lifelong love of language and expression.

Specifically, we strive to develop communicators and empower children to express themselves clearly and creatively through various writing forms, adapting their style and language to suit different purposes and audiences. We will integrate writing across all areas of the curriculum, allowing children to use writing as a tool for inquiry, reflection, and action. We will nurture conceptual understanding and encourage children to explore and express their understanding of key concepts through writing, fostering deeper learning and critical thinking.

A stimulating and supportive environment where children are inspired to experiment with language, develop their vocabulary, and appreciate the power of words is key to supporting children. We will also equip children with the necessary writing skills, including grammar, punctuation, spelling, and text structure, to become competent and confident writers and encourage them to reflect and self-assess in order to progress. Reflecting on their writing process and identifying areas for improvement will ensure that they develop into confident writers and communicators.

As an academy we will celebrate diversity and individuality as writers. We will value and celebrate the unique voices and perspectives of all our children, creating an inclusive and supportive writing community. Children will be given opportunities to choose their writing themes, and formats, to develop their own voice.

Implementation

At LAPW, we believe that writing is a fundamental tool for communication, expression, and inquiry. Our writing program, aligned with the PYP framework, aims to develop confident and capable writers who understand the purpose and audience of their writing. We foster a love of language and empower children to use writing as a means of exploring their ideas, reflecting on their learning, and connecting with the world around them.

Writing is integrated into all areas of inquiry, allowing children to use writing as a tool for research, reflection, and communication of their understandings. We focus on developing the children’s understanding of key writing concepts, such as purpose, audience, genre, structure, and language choices. Writing is woven throughout the Units of Inquiry, providing authentic contexts for children to apply their writing skills. We cater to the diverse needs of all our learners by providing adapted instruction, scaffolding, and support to ensure all children experience success.

We emphasise the writing process, including planning, drafting, revising and editing, to help children develop effective writing strategies. Children are exposed to a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and poetic writing, to broaden their understanding of writing forms. We provide opportunities for children to write for authentic audiences, such as peers, parents/carers, and the wider community, to enhance their sense of purpose and engagement. We integrate technology tools, where appropriate, to support writing, such as word processing software, digital storytelling platforms, and online resources.

We use a variety of assessment strategies, including formative and summative assessments, to monitor children’s progress and inform planning. We focus on providing descriptive feedback to guide children’s development. We encourage children to reflect on their writing process and learning, promoting metacognition and self-assessment. Children engage in collaborative writing activities, such as peer editing and group projects, to develop their communication and teamwork skills.

We celebrate children’s writing achievements through displays, publications, certificates in assembly, and presentations, fostering a positive and supportive writing culture.

Teachers will plan and deliver engaging writing lessons that align with the PYP framework and the academy’s Programme of Inquiry. Children will maintain writing portfolios, in the form of a writing wall, to showcase their progress and reflect on their learning. Parents/carers will be involved in their children's writing development through workshops, open afternoons, and communication about children’s progress. We will use the International Baccalaureate documents, and other high quality resources, to inform our teaching and learning.

This implementation statement will be reviewed and revised regularly to ensure it remains relevant and effective in supporting the development of confident and capable writers within our PYP community.

Impact

Through the implementation of a robust writing program aligned with the PYP framework, our children will become effective communicators. They will develop the ability to express their ideas, understandings, and feelings clearly and creatively through various forms of writing. They will learn to adapt their writing style and language to suit different purposes and audiences, fostering strong communication skills. They will utilise writing as a tool to share their learning, collaborate with peers, and contribute to their community.

Writing will be integrated into all areas of inquiry and curriculum, allowing children to document their investigations, reflect on their learning, and formulate new questions. Children will use writing to explore and express their understanding of the PYP transdisciplinary themes, deepening their connections to the world around them. They will develop critical thinking and research skills through the process of planning, drafting, revising, and editing their written work.

Through writing, children will become:

Inquirers: by asking questions and exploring ideas.
Communicators: by expressing themselves effectively.
Thinkers: by analysing, reflecting, and creating.
Knowledgeable: by gathering and synthesising information.
Reflective: by considering their own learning and progress.

Children will be given voice and choice in their writing, promoting a sense of ownership over their learning. They will learn to use writing as a tool for self-expression and advocacy, empowering them to take action in their world. They will develop a love of language and a lifelong appreciation for the power of writing.

By prioritising writing within the PYP framework, we will empower children to become confident, articulate, and engaged learners who are prepared to make a positive impact on their communities and the world.

What we do at LAPW...

We believe that high-quality writing is fundamental to all learning. Our approach is designed to nurture confident, creative, and skilled writers through a blend of engaging digital tools and traditional practices. We frequently draw inspiration from Literacy Shed, using their rich collection of animated films and visual prompts to spark imagination and provide a strong foundation for diverse writing genres. Handwriting is meticulously developed using Letter Join, ensuring children build a fluent and legible cursive script. Chromebooks are integral to our writing process, empowering pupils to research, draft, and edit their work digitally. The Read&Write Toolbar further supports this by offering features like text-to-speech, dictation, and vocabulary support, making writing accessible for all learners. Our corridors proudly display Writing Walls, showcasing exemplary work from all children and key writing features, providing a living resource for children to refer to. We delve deeper into inquiries through our Inquiry Hub, where extended projects often culminate in ambitious written pieces, fostering a sense of purpose for writing. Dedicated Writing Weeks punctuate our year, offering immersive experiences that celebrate writing and provide focused opportunities for extended pieces. We also welcome Author Visits, inspiring our young writers directly from the professionals. For foundational skills and spelling, we utilise EdShed, providing interactive games and adaptive learning to strengthen grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Finally, TeachMateAI assists our teachers in streamlining administrative tasks and generating ideas, allowing them more time to focus on direct teaching and personalised feedback to enhance each child's writing journey.

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