Our
English
curriculum
At The Belham, children develop a passion for reading and writing through a rich, diverse and engaging curriculum that nurtures creativity and confidence.
Curriculum intent
At The Belham, we want every child to leave primary school as a confident, creative and purposeful writer. Writing sits at the heart of our curriculum because it helps children express themselves, connect with others and shape the world around them.
All writing is rooted in the four purposes – to entertain, to inform, to persuade and to discuss. These ensure children understand why they are writing, who they are writing for and what effect they want to achieve.
As children move through the school, they learn how to manage their own writing process: planning, drafting and redrafting many times to develop reflection and independence. By the end of Year 6, they can adapt their style and structure for different audiences and purposes, consciously choosing vocabulary, grammar and sentence patterns to create the intended impact.
They leave us able to write with fluency, accuracy and imagination, ready to approach secondary school as confident writers who understand both the craft and purpose of writing.
How we teach
At The Belham, we believe that the books children read shape the people they become. That’s why our writing curriculum is built around a purposeful collection of high-quality texts that reflect our diverse community, challenge stereotypes, support emotional literacy and build character. Each text is carefully chosen to model excellent writing, nurture empathy, spark curiosity and inspire children to see the world with fresh eyes.
In the Early Years, children begin by composing sentences verbally and writing sentences dictated from memory. Alongside this, they follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised systematic synthetic phonics programme, enabling them to segment words, spell accurately and apply phonics knowledge to their independent writing.
We teach writing through a cycle of Explore, Practise and Compose, grounded in educational research:
- Explore lessons immerse children in the core text, exploring vocabulary, style and purpose.
- Practise lessons provide opportunities to rehearse grammar, structures and techniques in meaningful contexts.
- Compose lessons bring these strands together, guiding children to plan, draft, revise, edit and publish their work.
This sequence reflects the EEF’s guidance on writing, showing that children make the most progress when explicit instruction, modelling, practice and feedback are closely interwoven.
The four purposes of writing—to entertain, to inform, to persuade and to discuss—help children understand their audience and intention. Whether they’re crafting a story, writing a letter, delivering a speech or developing a balanced argument, they learn to express themselves powerfully and authentically.
We also use supported sentences, an approach developed through the Charles Dickens Research School. Supported sentences provide structured models of syntax and vocabulary to help children access ambitious grammar and sentence patterns while building independence and confidence.
By combining systematic phonics, high-quality texts, purposeful teaching sequences, evidence-informed practice and clear writing purposes, we ensure every child learns not only how to write—but how to write with voice, confidence and meaning.
Impact
Children become articulate, reflective writers who can express ideas clearly and purposefully. They develop independence, creativity and the ability to adapt their writing for different audiences, leaving The Belham with a lifelong love of language and literature.
How you can help at home
- Read every day – whether your child is reading to you or you are reading to them, this daily habit is the single most important way to support their progress.
- Create writing opportunities – diaries, letters, postcards or shopping lists help children see writing as useful and enjoyable.
- Make it special – a favourite pen, notepad or using the computer can motivate reluctant writers.
- Focus feedback – rather than correcting everything, choose one or two things (like spelling or punctuation) to improve gradually.
- Talk it through – discussing ideas aloud before writing helps children organise their thoughts and strengthen sentence structure.
Most importantly, show your child that writing has a real purpose in everyday life and celebrate their efforts as well as their progress.
