Welcome to Writing at Green Lane Primary Academy

“Writing is the painting of the voice.” – Voltaire

At Green Lane, we believe writing is an essential skill that allows children to express themselves, explore ideas, and communicate with the world. Writing goes hand-in-hand with reading and speaking: it helps pupils organise their thoughts, develop creativity, and become confident learners. Our aim is for every child to leave Green Lane able to write clearly, imaginatively, and with purpose.

From the very beginning, we place great importance on building strong foundations for writing. In the early years, children develop the physical skills, language, and confidence needed to become writers through talk, play, mark-making, and early phonics. These foundations are carefully built upon as children move through the school, ensuring that skills are revisited, practised, and deepened year on year.

Why We Love Writing

We love writing because it gives children a voice. Through writing, they can share their ideas, tell stories, explain learning, and persuade or entertain others. Writing sparks imagination, encourages reflection, and allows children to explore different perspectives. At Green Lane, we celebrate every writer, from the first sentence a child carefully constructs in Reception to the polished, purposeful pieces created by Year 6 pupils.

Throughout their time at Green Lane, children are supported on a clear writing journey. They are taught the essential skills of spelling, handwriting, grammar, and sentence construction, while also being encouraged to write creatively and independently. By building on strong foundations and nurturing a love of writing, we ensure that every child develops the confidence and skills they need to succeed as a writer, both in school and beyond.

What Learning Looks Like

At the start of the Autumn term, Years 2–6 focus on the Place Value of Punctuation and Grammar, revisiting key skills to support confident and accurate writing. Throughout the year, pupils move through a series of purposeful writing units.

Our school uses the Talk 4 Writing approach across all year groups. Children become familiar with high-quality example texts, learn them through structured activities, and create a “toolkit” of ideas, techniques, and language features to help plan and write their own pieces. This approach ensures children understand the structure and purpose of texts, while also giving them the freedom to be creative.

In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, writing starts with mark-making, forming letters, and writing simple sentences, gradually progressing to more detailed stories, instructions, and reports. By Key Stage 2, pupils are writing across a wide range of genres, including narrative, explanation, persuasion, and poetry, using their Talk 4 Writing toolkits to support planning, drafting, editing, and publishing their work.

Talking, Exploring and Doing

Writing at Green Lane is more than putting words on a page. Pupils discuss ideas, share drafts, and give feedback to each other. They explore new vocabulary and grammar, learn how to structure texts effectively, and revise their work to make it the best it can be. Teachers model writing strategies, scaffold learning, and provide clear examples to ensure all children can succeed.

Writing is embedded across the curriculum. In Science, children write like scientists, explaining investigations and recording observations. In History, they write like historians, analysing evidence and recounting events. In Geography, they write like geographers, describing places, explaining processes, and presenting findings from fieldwork. Embedding writing in context helps pupils see the purpose of their learning and develop the skills to communicate effectively in any subject.

What Makes Us Special

Our strength lies in the combination of Talk 4 Writing and our structured grammar and punctuation teaching. Pupils are supported to build independence, creativity, and confidence in their writing. From Reception to Year 6, children develop a love of language and the ability to communicate effectively. Our writing lessons encourage curiosity, imagination, and reflection, ensuring that every child leaves Green Lane equipped to write with skill and purpose.

How We Know Children Are Succeeding

You’ll see your child’s progress in how they can:

  • Plan, draft, and edit their own writing effectively.
  • Use punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary accurately.
  • Write confidently across a range of genres.
  • Express ideas clearly, creatively, and with purpose.
  • Reflect on feedback and improve their work.

Supporting Writing At Home

Children make the greatest progress in writing when school and home work together. Sharing ideas, encouraging writing for a purpose, and reading together helps develop vocabulary, grammar, and confidence. Here are some useful websites with tips, prompts, and activities to support writing at home:

WebsiteDescription
BBC Bitesize EnglishPractice English skills including speaking, listening, reading and writing.
BBC Bitesize Creative WritingUse the resource to practice creative writing skills and explore ways to lay out an interesting story.