How we assess writing at Longfleet

Since the introduction of the new National Curriculum, in 2014, schools have been grappling with how to assess English (and other subjects) as the previous long established system of levels was abandoned with the curriculum it came from.  Longfleet has developed a series of 'Writing Walls' that enable teachers and pupils to work together to meet the requirements of each year.  They enable teachers to assess if a child is working at the expected standard and what they need to do to further improve their writing.  Children are motivated by receiving stickers and stars for meeting targets and can colour in a brick on the wall each time they've completely met a target.  It also encourages children to progress their work beyond the 'expected' level (which we call  'Professional') to the 'greater depth' (which we call 'Expert').

We haven't written a writing wall for year 6 because, in common with other schools, we use the government's 'interim standards' for assessing year 6.  They are devised by the government as a bridging assessment method until next year.  They are available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-interim-frameworks-for-teacher-assessment-at-the-end-of-key-stage-2

We are happy to make these grids available to parents and teaching colleagues in other schools - please let us know how you get on with using them. 

Emma Few, deputy (English and Assessment lead) efew@longfleet.poole.sch.uk

Learning to read and write at Longfleet

In the first instance, we teach your child how to read and write using phonics.  Phonics is a method of teaching children to read by linking sounds (phonemes) and the symbols that represent them (graphemes, or letter groups).

You can find out more about how phonics teaching works here:

http://www.theschoolrun.com/phonics-teaching-step-by-step

Letters and Sounds

At Longfleet, we use the phonics resource 'Letters and Sounds' to help your child learn. Letters and Sounds is a phonics resource published by the Department for Education and Skills in 2007. It aims to build children's speaking and listening skills in their own right as well as to prepare children for learning to read by developing their phonic knowledge and skills. It sets out a detailed and systematic programme for teaching phonic skills for children starting by the age of five, with the aim of them becoming fluent readers by age seven.

You can find out more about Letters and Sounds here:

http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/