Writing in the Early Years
We believe that writing begins long before children hold a pencil or form their first letters. In our Early Years setting, we create a rich and supportive environment where children are inspired to communicate through mark-making, storytelling, drawing, and eventually writing. We nurture confident, capable young writers by developing both the physical skills and imaginative ideas they need to express themselves.
Building Strong Foundations Through Fine Motor Skills
Early writing success depends on developing strong fine motor control. That’s why our provision includes plenty of hands-on, practical activities such as:
- Threading beads and using tweezers
- Moulding dough and building with blocks
- Painting with brushes and water
- Drawing with chalks, crayons, and pens
These activities strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers, helping children build the coordination and control they need to write confidently and comfortably.
Writing Opportunities Across the Setting
Writing is not confined to the writing table. In our EYFS classroom, it happens everywhere—in role play corners, construction zones, outdoor spaces, and creative areas. Children might:
- Write a shopping list in the home corner
- Create labels for their models
- Draw maps during outdoor play
- Make signs, menus, cards, or storybooks
By embedding purposeful writing throughout all areas of learning, we ensure that children see writing as a meaningful and exciting part of everyday life.
Inspiring a Love of Writing from the Start
We believe that all children are writers. Our aim is to foster enjoyment and confidence from the very beginning by:
- Valuing every mark as communication
- Encouraging storytelling and idea sharing
- Celebrating children's attempts and progress, not perfection
- Using high-quality books and spoken language as inspiration
By providing time, space, and encouragement to explore writing freely, children learn that writing is a powerful way to express their ideas, emotions, and imagination.
Writing in Key Stages 1 and 2
At Penryn Primary Academy, we are passionate about developing confident, creative, and enthusiastic writers. We follow and have adapted the ethos of the Grammasaurus Writing Scheme, a structured and engaging approach that helps children build strong writing skills across a variety of genres.
We provide a hands-on and structured way to teach writing, much like our mathematics learning, ensuring children develop key skills in vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and composition. Our approach supports children in learning to write with purpose, creativity, and accuracy, while also helping them understand different writing styles and techniques.
How We Teach Writing
- Modelled and Guided Writing – Teachers use high-quality examples to demonstrate effective writing techniques and structure.
- Genre-Specific Learning – Pupils explore different types of writing, from narratives and poetry to persuasive texts and reports.
- Rich Vocabulary Development – We introduce ambitious and subject-specific vocabulary to enhance children's writing.
- Grammar and Punctuation Focus – Lessons embed key grammar and punctuation skills, helping children apply them in their writing.
- Editing and Improving – We encourage children to refine and improve their work through self-assessment, peer review, and teacher feedback.
Inspiring a Love for Writing
At Penryn Primary Academy, we aim to make writing an enjoyable and meaningful experience. We use engaging topics, interactive lessons, and cross-curricular links to inspire children to express themselves confidently. Writing is celebrated across the school through displays and opportunities for children to share their work.
Ultimately, we ensure that all pupils develop the skills they need to become effective and creative writers, preparing them for the next stage of their learning journey.
