Warren Road Primary School is a large 4-form entry academy on the edge of Orpington in the London Borough of Bromley. We are an ‘Outstanding’ school and well-established National Teaching School (designated by the National College for Teaching and Leadership).
Talk for Writing has been the most successful whole school initiative we have undertaken at Warren Road. Staff have collaborated to share skills, expertise and support one another in the project’s implementation. Standards have risen in all year groups, especially in areas of ‘Greater Depth’, where written outcomes are over an extremely high standard.
Visitors to the school will find themselves immersed in lessons where vocabulary is championed and celebrated; grammar, punctuation and spelling is contextualised and used with confidence and content is rich and engaging.
Our mission statement for Literacy is: ‘Children love English and are excited to read, write and express themselves.’ Before TfW, 61% of children said that they enjoyed Literacy and felt confident as writers. After the first year of TfW, a staggering 91% of children felt this way, meaning that – in the space of a year – we changed the attitude of 216 children…and this percentage continues to rise!
Since 2012, we have been a National Teaching School (Warren Teaching School Alliance). Based upon specific requirements, Warren Road can tailor training packages or visits to suit.
Taster Mornings
£75 per person.
Our open mornings offer an insight into the Talk for Writing process and are aimed at both leaders and teachers. Delegates will gain an understanding of the three I’s – Innovation, Imitation and Independent Application as well as being immersed within classrooms across the Key Stages.
Course Content:
• See Talk for Writing in action in EYFS, KS1 & KS2.
• Talk to teachers and children.
• Hear from Talk for Writing leaders on how to lead the programme effectively in school.
• Have a fiction unit talked through from KS1 & KS2.
Wednesday 15th January – 9.15–12.15. Cost: £75
Wednesday 11th June – 9.15–12.15. Cost: £75
Immersion Day
£150 per person
Would you like a further immersion in Talk for Writing? As with all our courses, we will take you into classrooms to see high-quality teaching and Talk for Writing in action. This course is aimed at teachers who like a deeper immersion into the Talk for Writing process with a focus on Imitation. It is particularly useful to teachers who are new to Talk for Writing.
Course content:
• An overview of the TfW process and its impact on raising standards.
• A rich immersion in classrooms to see TfW being taught throughout the school.
• A deeper understanding of the 3Is – Imitation, Innovation and Independent Application with a focus on Imitation.
• An opportunity to look at books and chat with children.
FICTION – Friday 15th November
9.15–3.15. Cost: £150
NON-FICTION – Wednesday 4th December
9.15–3.15. Cost: £150
Contact
Course details here: https://wrta.uk/tfw
Sinead O’Mahony
Email: info@wrta.uk
“A love of writing is being fostered and the transition between year groups over time should become easier. What [my son] can do and tell me at 6 years old is remarkable! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication in moving this initiative forward at Warren Road.”Parent
“I really like Talk for Writing because I used to not like Literacy that much, but now I really do because I know what I am doing. I used to not have many ideas, but now I have lots. I also didn’t know how to write my ideas down, how to format them, but now, with the help of the story maps, I have learnt how to get them onto the paper.”Pupil
“I would like to let you know that my son has made a significant improvement in his writing this year…He used to tell me that he had not got a clue what to write and how to start a story…He is very lucky to be in the first year group who practise/learn the new method of writing. It is extremely helpful and has boosted his confidence in writing. Thank you!”Parent