At our school, writing is taught through the CUSP Writing curriculum, which is carefully designed to help pupils become confident, skilled and purposeful writers.

The CUSP Writing curriculum is built around a reduce and revisit model. This means that rather than covering many different text types superficially, pupils revisit key forms of writing over time, enabling them to deepen their understanding and refine their skills. 

Teaching is organised into two blocks: Block A and Block B. In Block A, pupils are introduced to new concepts and skills. In Block B, they revisit these ideas, building on prior knowledge and strengthening their writing. This approach supports long-term retention and increasing independence.

Each block is carefully structured in two parts. First, pupils focus on developing sentence-level knowledge, including grammar, punctuation and vocabulary, through short, focused tasks. They then apply this knowledge in a longer, extended piece of writing. Teachers use model texts to demonstrate key features and support pupils in structuring their own work.

Writing lessons follow a clear and consistent structure, supporting all pupils to succeed. Pupils use Knowledge Notes, model examples and scaffolded resources to guide their learning, while regular opportunities for discussion and oracy help them to develop and refine their ideas. 

We ensure that all pupils can achieve by adapting teaching to meet their needs. Flexible time is built into the curriculum to allow for revisiting key concepts, additional practice or deeper exploration where needed. 

Assessment is woven throughout the writing process. Pupils use clear success criteria to evaluate and edit their work, helping them to understand what successful writing looks like and how they can improve. Teachers use these alongside wider assessment frameworks to monitor progress and ensure all children are developing as writers. 

Our aim is for all children to become confident writers who can write with accuracy, creativity and purpose across a range of contexts.

Writing: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach writing?
Writing is taught through a structured sequence where children first learn key skills in small steps, before applying them in longer pieces of writing. This helps pupils to build confidence and produce high-quality work.

What is CUSP Writing?
CUSP Writing is a curriculum that focuses on depth rather than coverage. Children revisit key types of writing over time, allowing them to build knowledge, improve their skills and write more independently.

Do children get enough opportunities to write at length?
Yes. Each unit includes an extended writing outcome where pupils apply what they have learned. There are also opportunities across the wider curriculum for purposeful writing.

How are children supported in writing?
Teachers use model texts, vocabulary support, scaffolding strategies and clear success criteria to help all pupils succeed. Learning is carefully broken down into manageable steps.

How do you assess writing?
Assessment takes place throughout the writing process. Children use success criteria to edit and improve their work, while teachers use a range of assessment tools to track progress over time.

How can I support my child at home?

• Encourage your child to talk about their ideas before writing
• Practise writing for real purposes (e.g. letters, lists, stories)
• Support spelling and handwriting through regular practice
• Read regularly together, as this helps develop vocabulary and ideas for writing