Raising writing standards in Years 4 and 5: Winning at writing KS2

This innovative and sharply focused programme is designed to support teachers of writers in Years 4 and 5 to meet age-related expectations in the following aspects of their writing:

Word and phrase choice
Sentence structure
Overall composition

The approaches and resources are designed to develop writing fluidity, stamina, and confidence.

The project has been SO useful to our schools and I have seen significant impact in the quality of independent writing that the pupils have produced as a result of it. I am now having conversations with my schools regarding how to use the principles in other year groups. Thank you for your expertly devised resources, inspiring input and follow up support.

Tracy Warner, Academies Group Executive Principal, Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT)

What are the aims of the Winning at Writing KS2 programme?

The programme aims to improve KS2 writing outcomes for children whose writing:

Has too little or too much detail
Is repetitive or lacking in cohesion
Demonstrates an insecure grasp of sentence structure
Lacks a sense of direction, purpose and audience

This fully planned and resourced programme of writing units is designed to support the development of knowledge, improve writing skills and motivation for children who struggle with independent writing.

What are the benefits of participating in the Winning at Writing KS2 programme?

The Winning at Writing KS2 programme provides children with direction; writing fluidity; authorial voice; sentence control; variation of sentence structures; independence and most of all, motivation and confidence.

The focus on flow in writing, as well as improved language use and sentence control support children in making accelerated progress towards EXS in writing at the end of KS2.

Teachers will benefit from a heightened awareness, and deeper subject knowledge of the principles and elements that support precise, effective writing.

Impact and outcomes from the Winning at Writing KS2 programme

Teachers reflecting on the impact noted the following benefits:

Reluctant writers asking to write at home
Greater awareness of the reader
Teachers and children alike loving the creativity bringing the reader and the purpose back into writing

Children enjoy editing
Increased output
Improved use of writing tools and writerly strategies

Find out more in our blog: Winning at Writing? Yes! Experiences from a Year 4 classroom

Winning at Writing KS2 programme

Teachers will be provided with three sequences of lessons. The three core sequences include 6 weeks of detailed lessons with a range of resources and a variety of innovate approaches to support the focus children with the skills and confidence required for age-related writing. The lessons are designed to be delivered as whole class teaching or used for targeted support with groups. As such this programme has the potential to support whole school development of writing. These fully resourced plans are based on a carefully selected and focused use of high-quality texts.

Participants will engage in three training sessions. All sessions are offered remotely, including a half-day launch event in which the programme rationale is set out, and the resources and approaches are fully introduced, explained and exemplified.

The Winning at Writing KS2 programme is delivered via a:

Half-day, online live launch event.
An introduction to the theory behind the programme, along with exemplification of the accompanying plans (focusing on sequence 1) and resources.

1 hour live webinar
Mid-programme twilight session for sharing and trouble shooting for sequence 2.

Half-day live webinar
Final CPD for exploring sequence 3, implementation of the strategies across the whole writing curriculum, and dissemination across the school.