WRITING

Mastering the written word is an essential life skill, and at Parklands, we nurture this from the very start. In Reception, children develop their early writing skills within a language-rich environment, laying the foundations for confident and expressive communication. As they progress through school, they expand their vocabulary, refine their understanding of grammar, and build knowledge of linguistic conventions through exposure to our rich literary heritage.

Our curriculum empowers children to craft increasingly sophisticated and imaginative writing across a range of genres, adapting their tone and style for different contexts, purposes, and audiences. We also place great emphasis on speaking and listening, incorporating opportunities such as formal presentations and debates to develop confident verbal communication skills.

Through a carefully sequenced and immersive writing curriculum, we equip children with the knowledge, skills, and creativity to communicate fluently and effectively—preparing them not only for the next stage of their education but for success in the wider world.

At Parklands, we recognise that reading is fundamental to the writing process. From blending phonics to construct words and sentences to drawing inspiration from texts for structure, theme, and atmosphere, reading is the essential starting point of every writing journey.

Once children have established the foundational skills for their writing, they are encouraged to develop their own unique style, driven by exciting contexts and immersive experiences. Across the school, visual stimuli and drama are used to spark imagination and creativity, inspiring children to write with confidence and originality.

We support our pupils through interactive and collaborative learning opportunities, helping them build rich language banks and shape compelling, well-structured writing. Teachers model and co-create examples of effective writing, demonstrating how language, punctuation, and sentence structures can be used to enhance impact and engage the reader. Through individual and peer evaluation, children learn to critically assess and refine their work, developing the techniques necessary to become highly skilled writers.

To further strengthen their verbal communication skills, children are regularly encouraged to read their work aloud or present their ideas through debate, ensuring they can articulate their thoughts with clarity and confidence.

We use the power of technology to bring a child’s writing to life through the use of Olex AI, which generates images based on each child’s writing.

Spelling

Weekly spellings focus on firstly securing common year group spellings, before progressing to the core spelling rules that empower them to tackle more adventurous spellings independently.
Below are the common exception spellings children are expected to master by the end of each school year, and apply accurately in their writing.

Y1 Common Exception Spellings
Y2 Common Exception Spellings
Y3-6 Common Exception Spellings

Handwriting

We strive to ensure all pupils’ work reflects the highest standards, recognising that neat presentation is an important skill. To achieve this, we have a whole-school approach to handwriting, using the cursive script.

This style of handwriting is introduced as soon as children start in Reception when they begin to form and shape letters. Children build on this learning until their writing is joined and fluent at pace.

We also provide guidance and support for parents, so they can actively encourage handwriting practice at home.

Our approach creates highly creative writers and communicators. At the end of all statutory assessments, performance is consistently well above national averages.

Beyond this though, our pupils are confident, articulate young people, able to communicate effectively in a range of situations – skills that will serve them well far beyond primary education.