Writing in the Writing in the Early Years Early Years

Foundation Stage & Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1Key Stage 1

Writing in the Writing in the Early Years Early Years

Foundation Stage & Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1Key Stage 1

What is writing?

It is a representational way of:

• Recording events in our lives.• Prompting us.• Informing others and• Recording our creative thoughts

and the results of our imaginings.

Writing begins with mark making. We encourage children:• To use chalks, pens, pencils, brushes

and to make marks in shaving foam, sand, cornflour, playdough and clay.

• To experiment with textures and shapes and to create patterns and pictures in order to develop fine motor control.

Mark Making and Writing Develops in stages:• Random scribbling which develops into flowing circular shapes.• Drawing simple pictures.• Symbols or mock letters.• Emergent writing with letter strings. or groups of letters and squiggles.• Picture labelling and writing names.• Invented spelling or initial letters.• Sounding out words and writing sentences.

How can we help children to become confident writers?

• Plan an environment that reflects the importance of language.

• Provide opportunities for children to see adults writing and

• Create a time, a place and a reason for children to experiment with writing for themselves.

Confident speakers:

• Children should hear, use and enjoy a rich diet of oral language through books, stories, rhymes, drama and songs and retelling and sequencing stories.

• They should also see adults modelling writing, messages, lists, labels, instructions, letters and stories.

Writing with a Purpose Children need a reason to write.• Writing should be an inclusive part of

children’s play and based on real experiences.

• In school we use dramatic role play to build the skills of story writing.

Children can explore roles and themes, beginnings, endings and links.

Creative Role Play Role play areas indoors and outside provide many opportunities to write lists, diaries, messages, menus, orders, invitations, letters, signs, forms and tickets.

Post Office Play house, Birthday partiesVet/ Animal Hospital Hospital & Doctors surgeryShoe Shop Baby ClinicBeach Cafe CaravanGarage Fire StationChinese Restaurant CastleJungle  Pet Shop

How do we teach

writing at Hiltingbury?

1. Choosing a genre

• Fiction

• Non- Fiction

• Poetry

Look out for the variety of responses in the children’s

writing activities

2.Finding a stimulus

• Books

• Texts

• Pictures

• Video clips

• Drama

3. Modelling good writing

• Watching an adult model good writing.

• Sharing in the writing process- ideas, spellings, grammar, punctuation…

• Asking children to improve a piece of writing or focussing on a specific skill (Guided Writing)

4. Practising and rehearsing

• Using whiteboards

• Oral rehearsal

• Drafting/Editing

• ICT

5. Reminding children what makes good writing

• Think before you write• Use your sounds to spell unfamiliar

words• Use lots of description• Don’t forget punctuation• VCOP displays – Vocabulary,

Connectives, Openers, Punctuation• Present writing neatly and clearly

The teaching sequence for writing

How can you support your child’s writing?• Be sensitive and listen to what they say.• Talk about their writing• Encourage them to feel proud of their

work.• Encourage them to ‘have a go’ and take

risks.• Value their efforts.• Let them write lists, labels, messages and

greetings without copying and praise their attempts at independent writing.

Thank You!