Writing in the Early Years Draft
Our writing journey begins in EYFS. Nursery and reception work within the Statutory Framework for the early years, using the Development Matters document to supplement and support teaching and learning.
By the end of reception, children will be able to:
*write recognisable letters
*spell using their phonetic knowledge
*write simple phrases/sentences that can be read by others
The small steps taken in EYFS, will prepare all of our children for the rest of their school journey.
Nursery
There is a vast range of factors that contribute to child’s ability to write. We begin by teaching and developing their communication and language skills, which will continue throughout the year. This is accompanied by a wide range of activities that specifically work on their fine and gross motor skills in preparation for correctly holding a writing tool, and the start of their mark making journey.
Throughout the year, as well as continuing to develop their writing skills in all areas of the continuous provision, they begin a more focused ‘writing’ session in the form of Drawing Club. This immerses children into a world full of imagination, where they enrich their language and vocabulary, continue to develop their fine motor skills, and build upon their application of phonics, towards the end of the year.
Building on children’s developing communication and ‘writing’ skills, children will begin their phonics journey, where they take their first steps onto the Read Write Inc programme.
Reception
As children move into reception, they continue to build upon and extend the skills learnt in Nursery. They will be immersed in language throughout the classroom and beyond, where they are encouraged to use new vocabulary within informal speech and their independent writing.
Children are grouped within Read Write Inc sessions, where they work on phonemes and graphemes (sounds and letters) within the scheme.
Within adult lead sessions, children continue their ‘Drawing Club’ journey, where they will be enveloped with new language, and use this, along with their learning from RWI to enhance their writing. Children are also introduced to elements of 'Talk For Writing', where they use story maps to re-tell well known stories and have the opportunity to create their own.
Within provision, children are consistently encouraged to write independently, and imaginatively, combining all the skills they are developing to increase confidence and automaticity in preparation for their journey into Year 1.
