Writing In The EYFS

What does Writing look like in Early Years at Lathom Park?

At Lathom Park, we encourage children to see themselves as writers right from the start. Whether they’re drawing a picture with a label or writing a short sentence about their weekend, we celebrate all their efforts.

In Nursery, children explore mark-making in all sorts of ways—paintbrushes, chalk, sticks in mud, or pencils on paper. They begin to give meaning to their marks and enjoy telling others what they’ve drawn or written. We also focus on developing the muscles needed for writing through fine motor play and activities.

In Reception, children start to write letters and simple words using the sounds they’ve learned in phonics. They write captions, short sentences, and begin to re-read their writing to check it makes sense. Most importantly, they grow in confidence and enjoy using writing to express their thoughts, ideas, and stories.

By the end of Reception, children will:

• Write recognisable letters, most formed correctly;
  
  

• Spell words by identifying the sounds and writing the letters;
  
  

• Write simple sentences that they can read back and that make sense.