Writing

Writing is a skill that goes beyond simply forming letters and words; it's about expressing thoughts, ideas, and creativity!

At Hassocks Infant School, we want every child to fall in love with reading and writing.
Our English curriculum helps children develop the skills, confidence, and joy to communicate clearly, think creatively, and express themselves through language. From the very start, we build strong foundations in phonics, reading, writing, handwriting, and spoken language, following the National Curriculum, the 2025 Writing Framework, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Through exciting stories, rich vocabulary, and plenty of opportunities to talk and write, we inspire children to see themselves as confident readers and writers.

Our Approach

We believe all children can be successful readers and writers. Early reading is taught through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, giving children the skills to decode words quickly and accurately so they can enjoy a wide range of books. Alongside this, writing is developed through transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating and organising ideas). Children are taught how to plan, draft, revise, and edit their writing, building confidence and independence.

In Reception, children take part in Drawing Club, which develops imagination, storytelling and early writing skills. Through drawing, role play and story-making, children explore ideas in a joyful and creative way. This provides meaningful reasons to write and ensures every child sees themselves as an author and illustrator.

We celebrate writing as a way of exploring ideas, recording knowledge, and expressing feelings. Opportunities to write are embedded across the curriculum, in role play, outdoors, and in the classroom, so children are motivated to write for real purposes. Displays of both finished work and the writing process show children that every stage of learning is valued.

Assessment

Assessment is ongoing and ensures that all children make progress. Regular phonics checks identify gaps early so that support can be put in place quickly. Writing is assessed against the Key performance indictors (KPI) and Early Learning Goals (ELG) and is moderated regularly using exemplification materials. Teachers provide regular feedback so children know what they have achieved and their next steps.

Diversity

We believe it is vital that children see themselves and others in the books they read and the stories they write. Our curriculum includes authors, illustrators, and characters from a wide range of backgrounds. This helps children to value difference, challenge stereotypes, and build empathy through the power of literature.

Teaching Tools

Phonics: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds ensures systematic teaching of phonics, spelling and word structure.

Handwriting: We use the Letterjoin handwriting programme from Reception onwards. Handwriting is taught regularly and progressively, with daily fine and gross motor opportunities in Reception and structured handwriting sessions in Years 1 and 2. Our aim is for children to develop fluent, legible, and joined handwriting that becomes automatic, allowing them to focus on the content of their writing.

Drawing Club: In Reception, Drawing Club is used to immerse children in stories, art and imaginative play. It supports vocabulary development, creativity, and early composition, giving children exciting opportunities to communicate through pictures and words.

Presentation: Children are taught to take pride in their work, keeping books neat and following agreed expectations. This helps them develop positive habits for learning across the curriculum.

Rich Texts: We choose high-quality, diverse books that capture children’s imaginations, broaden vocabulary, and reflect a wide range of cultures, voices, and experiences.

Above and Beyond