Writing in the EYFS

Writing, along with reading, makes up literacy, one of the four specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Before children can begin to write they must be able to have some Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing), which starts from birth. Writing in EYFS, involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (oral rehearsal, before writing).

Writing in the National Curriculum

The National Curriculum for writing is separated into Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and consists of three components:

• Transcription (spelling and handwriting)
• Composition (planning, drafting, writing and evaluation)
• Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

It is necessary to develops pupils’ competence in these dimensions.  In order to write with clarity and fluency, children will need to spell accurately and develop an understanding of morphology (word structure) and orthography (spelling structure) of words. Composition involves forming, articulating and communicating ideas, and then organising them coherently for a reader. This requires awareness of the audience, purpose and context, and an increasingly wide knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. As vocabulary increases pupils will understand the relationships between words, how to understand nuances in meaning, and how to develop their understanding of, and ability to use, figurative language. Writing also depends on fluent, legible handwriting.