OUR INTENT
At Elton Primary, we believe that all pupils should be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas, and emotions through their writing. Our aim is for pupils to acquire a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar, and the ability to spell new words by effectively applying the spelling patterns and rules they learn. We encourage them to write clearly, accurately, and coherently, adapting their language and style for a range of contexts, purposes, and audiences.
Our writing curriculum is thoughtfully designed to empower children with the essential skills necessary to have a voice in the world. We recognise that fluency in literacy is crucial for success, providing children with the tools required to fully engage in society and embrace a high-quality education. Central to our focus is the empowerment of children with the ability to comprehend the social aspects of writing, allowing them to use various styles appropriately and tailor their writing to suit specific purposes and audiences.
Through sentence accuracy, we aim to foster a progressive understanding of grammar, the vital role of punctuation in enhancing clarity, and the application of spelling rules. The teaching of writing at Elton Primary has been meticulously crafted to enable our pupils to become confident and creative writers. We believe that good writers continuously refine and edit their work; thus, we encourage children to cultivate independence in identifying their own areas for improvement and to edit their writing effectively throughout the writing process. Research substantiates the pivotal role of writing as not merely an academic subject, but as a fundamental life skill that allows children to articulate their thoughts, express their creativity, and communicate proficiently with others.
Ready Steady Write fully aligns with the recommendations of the July 2025 DfE Writing Framework and is already trusted by hundreds of schools across the UK. For leaders seeking clarity, Claire Belisari, our Head of Consultancy, provides a section-by-section breakdown of the framework, showing how Ready Steady Write meets every consideration when selecting a writing scheme and supports all children in viewing themselves positively as effective writers.
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
John Keating
IMPLEMENTATION
Early Years
the journey of writing begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where children participate in a variety of high-quality activities that promote speaking, listening, and language development. The establishment of creative play is encouraged through well-structured role play areas, and tasks are meticulously designed to expose children to rich, high-quality dialogue. The foundations for writing readiness are nurtured through activities aimed at strengthening their gross and fine motor skills. Furthermore, children engage in programmes that utilise neurological and physiological movements to facilitate mark-making.
Our Early Years provision is specifically designed to inspire children to learn to write through play. The activities we implement systematically encourage mark-making, writing, as well as speaking and listening. Staff within the Early Years have undertaken specialised training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to ensure high-quality interactions, which serve as the cornerstone of effective communication and language skills.
Children in Reception benefit from our Ready Steady Write lessons, which are underpinned by vehicle texts closely aligned with our aspirational Early Years curriculum. These lessons deliver an engaging and meaningful context for writing, reinforcing skills acquired through playful learning experiences. As a result, our comprehensive approach ensures that children are not only prepared for writing but are also excited about their journey as budding authors, laying a solid foundation for their future educational endeavours.
Ready Steady Write
At Elton, we utilise the 'Ready Steady Write' approach from Literacy Counts as the foundation for our daily, discrete writing lessons, spanning from Reception through to Year 6. Central to our writing units are high-quality, engaging, and ambitious 'Vehicle Texts', which not only inspire children's creativity across a diverse range of genres but also facilitate cross-curricular connections with the foundation subjects when applicable.
Daily Sentence Accuracy lessons are integral to our strategy, fostering a robust command of the written word. These sessions focus on essential aspects of writing, including word choice, sentence structure, and punctuation, in alignment with the statutory National Curriculum programme of study. Regular practice in these areas contributes significantly to developing fluency and stamina in writing.
Each writing unit is meticulously planned and tailored to the specific needs of each class, employing a structured sequence of 'Immerse, Analyse, Plan, Write'. Key elements of grammar, punctuation, and spelling pertinent to the respective year group are interwoven throughout both the writing units and the Daily Sentence Accuracy lessons. Additionally, all students have the chance to analyse 'Greater Depth' writing samples, providing aspirational benchmarks for their own work.
Throughout the teaching sequence, teachers and support staff monitor individual progress, identifying where children may require further support. Timely interventions are then implemented to equip students with the necessary skills to create high-quality written work, ensuring that each child reaches their fullest potential.
THE IMPACT
All children will find profound enjoyment in writing across a diverse range of genres, including narrative, poetry, and non-fiction, which will foster creativity and engagement. They will actively make connections between writing and their learning in cross-curricular topics, applying their skills in practical and meaningful contexts. Students of all abilities will experience success in English lessons, as work will be appropriately scaffolded to meet individual needs and learning styles. Through structured instruction, they will develop an extensive vocabulary, equipping them to adapt their writing effectively to suit various contexts and audiences. Pupils will leave school confident in their ability to apply spelling rules and patterns accurately, having received thorough training in phonics and word structure. Importantly, they will cultivate a lifelong love of writing, feeling empowered and inspired, which will serve as a solid foundation for their continued education and personal expression in the years to come.
The impact of our writing curriculum at Elton Primary School is evidenced by the following outcomes:
- Consistently High Attainment
- Student Engagement and Motivation
- Improved Writing Skills
- Increased Writing Fluency
- Lifelong Learners
- Feedback and Reflection
We have a particularly strong focus on writing moderation at Elton. This supports our aspiration for excellent standards across school, as well as ensuring that judgements are accurate and fair. We conduct regular whole school, key stage and year group moderation in-house, as well as moderation exercises with year group colleagues in writing clusters across the Keep Learning Trust. Year 6 staff engage with the Local Authority moderation process.
We analyse the efficiency of our teaching approach and its impact on children's knowledge, understanding and progress through:
- Information from formal book looks
- Half- termly teacher writing assessments
- Performance data (since the introduction of Ready, steady, write September 2023, we continue to see a positive trend in performance data across school)
- Subject leader monitoring
- Learning walks
- Lesson observations
- Lesson drop ins- Sentence Accuracy
- Pupil voice
- School Development Plan
- Governor visits
- Writing blog on Literacy Counts Website
