The children at Nathaniel Newton experience a progressive, broad and balanced writing curriculum that is underpinned by the principles of ‘Talk for Writing’. This provides our children with an understanding of the structure and elements of written language to support their independent application of taught skills.

The key phases of the Talk for Writing process, enable children to imitate orally the language they need for a particular topic, before reading and analysing it, and then writing their own version.

Each year group has its own ‘English Spine’ that takes the children on a journey through a variety of carefully selected texts. These texts form the stimulus of a variety of written genres, including extended and ‘short burst’ writing opportunities. The teaching of Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar are incorporated into all of our English lessons.

Our school follows the Letterjoin Handwriting Scheme for teaching handwriting. Handwriting is taught each week, and is also embedded as part of our phonics, English and wider subject areas. At Nathaniel Newton our children are supported to develop the ‘perfect pencil grip’. Children sit at a table to write. They hold up a pencil in a tripod pencil grip with the non-writing hand flat holding their paper.

At Nathaniel Newton, all children take pride in the presentation of their writing, working hard to complete written work that is neat with well-formed handwriting.