2. S – Spelling P – Punctuation a – and G – Grammar Grammar, punctuation and spelling are key areas in the teaching of English.

3.  No longer a written test. Prior to 2011, children at the end of KS2 had to sit tests in writing, reading and maths. The writing test analysed children’s spelling and grammar abilities, creativity and capacity to structure texts.  Now writing is teacher assessed. Children no longer sit a writing test. Instead teachers collect writing that children complete over the course of the year and decide on the final outcome from this.  In 2012, the SPaG test was introduced. ‘...we want to make sure that when children leave primary school they are confident in grammar, punctuation and spelling. This test will ensure that primary schools place a stronger focus of these skills than in previous years.

4.  The revised National Curriculum for English (from September 2014) places an emphasis on vocabulary development, grammar, punctuation and spelling.  Expectations have been raised for each group with many aspects being taught at least a year earlier now than in the previous curriculum.  Pupils are expected to recognise and use the grammatical terminology appropriate to their year group.

5. We invite you to try some examples of SPaG activities that we are currently teaching your children.

6. Relative clauses/relative pronouns Subordinate clauses Modal verbs Adverbials Determiners Ellipsis Layout devices (sub-headings, columns, bullet points) Semi-colon, colon, dashes, hyphens Synonyms and Antonyms Informal and formal speech and writing Passive / active voice

7. ‘Progress measures in 2016 will work in a similar way to current primary value-added measures or Progress 8 in secondary schools. A school’s score will be calculated by comparing their pupils’ KS2 results against those of all pupils nationally who had similar starting points. The department will confirm what score a school would need to get to have made ‘sufficient progress’ after the tests have been sat. More detailed guidance on how the new measures will be constructed is expected to be published early in 2016.’ (DfE, 15 th January 2016)

8.  SPaG taught in discrete and cross-curricular lessons  LSAs are deployed for core subject lessons, including SPaG lessons  Regular assessment of pupils  Targeted intervention groups tailored to pupils’ individual needs  SPaG test practise during lesson time

9.  Educating yourselves on new curriculum via attending workshops or visiting websites  Extra work at home  Letts, CGP, Scholastic, Rising Stars etc. Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling workbooks  Practise spellings with your child

10. Please refer to the school website... www.thorpedene.southend.sch.uk/...for additional information.