This unit of work is based on Hermelin: The Detective Mouse by Mini Grey. Hermelin is the most helpful, yet smallest resident of Offley Street, always helping his neighbours solve their mysteries.

Mastery Skills:

• Describe settings, character and atmosphere
• Use a wide range of devices to build cohesion
• Use relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that or an omitted relative pronoun
• Use a variety of verb forms consistently and correctly

Short writing opportunities:

• Narrative
• Descriptive writing
• Diary entry
• Report
• Interview

Buy Hermelin: The Detective Mouse from our partners at Peters.

What is a Stepping Stone?

Stepping Stones are our short term literacy plans for teachers which introduce our text-based mastery approach to writing.

Each plan comprises 15 sessions to teach a small number of key writing skills from the national curriculum. Throughout the unit of work, pupils are given the opportunity to repeatedly practise these skills through meaningful short pieces of writing linked to the text. This builds towards a final extended writing task in which pupils can apply the skills with confidence and independence.

Planning features:

• Key activities for each session
• Examples of grammar skills pupils are expected to use
• Focus vocabulary and links to common exception words and
• NC word lists
• Essential resources included for the activities
• The first session is a ‘hook’ for learning
• Suggested challenges for those learners targeted to reach greater depth in writing
• Opportunity for pupils to explore the genre of the final writing outcome in more detail

These plans will give you a flavour of our more comprehensive, award-winning writing programme Pathways to Write.