Writing

How We Teach Writing at Waterside Academy

At Waterside Academy, we are passionate about helping every child become a confident and skilled writer. Through the CUSP Writing programme, we provide a structured and research-based curriculum that ensures pupils build the knowledge and skills needed to communicate effectively and creatively.

Our teaching focuses on mastering sentence-level fluency as the foundation for all writing. Pupils first practise constructing high-quality sentences before moving on to planning, drafting, and editing extended pieces. Writing concepts are carefully sequenced and revisited throughout the year in “Block A” and “Block B” units. This approach allows pupils to first learn key ideas and then apply them with growing independence and creativity.

We integrate writing tasks with the wider curriculum, giving pupils meaningful contexts for their work. For example, they might write a formal letter as part of their study of Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition or create a myth inspired by their learning about Ancient Greece. These connections help pupils draw on their knowledge and engage more deeply with their writing.

Support is personalised to meet the needs of all learners. Flexible content time allows teachers to focus on specific skills like sentence construction or shared writing. Pupils who need additional support benefit from scaffolding tools such as writing frames and guided practice, ensuring they make steady progress.

High-quality model texts, clear success criteria, and regular assessments guide pupils in producing excellent work.