When considering the place that writing holds in the Curriculum the staff are in broad agreement that

- Writing is an important means of communication.
- Writing may provide creative pleasure
- Writing may be an aid to effective learning.

We hope to marry these functions to the Northern Ireland Curriculum and produce a scheme of work which will be challenging, enjoyable, varied and effective. It will be designed to cater for the range of abilities within each class.

Children will be given frequent opportunities to write across all areas of the Curriculum as well as in formal ‘English’ situations. Written work in Science, Mathematics or Religion will provide opportunities for the exploration of language eg: tables, lists, reports, poems, note taking, composing instructions and summarising as well as traditional writing exercises. We hope to make writing activities meaningful and relevant and provide stimulation and enjoyment.

Much of childrens’ writing is to communicate meaning to others as well as to express their own feelings and experiences. The young writer will be assisted to organise his/her ideas efficiently, express them in an acceptable maimer and present them clearly and attractively. Attention will be paid to grammatical, spelling and handwriting conventions appropriate to the child’s stage of development. Children will be made aware of different methods of presentation for different types of audience.

There will be a consistent approach to the teaching of handwriting. By the end of Keystage 2 handwriting should be swift and legible.

Writing begins in imitation and ends in invention.

There are two essential rules for success -

(a) The young child must first want to write,

(b) He must have something to write about.

Writing ideas don’t develop in a vacuum. This is why it is so important to consider the inter-relationship between reading and writing, speaking and listening.

GENERAL AIMS FOR WRITING

By the end of P7 it is our aim that children should:­

1. Be able to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas in different forms.

2. Be able to write in a style appropriate to different situations.

3. Be able to use language which is grammatically correct and have a wide vocabulary knowing the correct spelling of basic words.

4. Be able to write in a clear well formulated hand.

5. Be able to plan, compose, revise and redraft some of their writing with the use of a word processor where appropriate.

We recognise that accurate spelling is an important element of ‘writing’ but inaccurate spelling should not inhibit creativity and imagination especially at first draft stage.

Children’s progress will be closely monitored and assessed on an ongoing basis. Appropriate samples of work will be retained in individual record Folders.