
Teaching Strong Foundations in Writing - EY
Summary
Developing Early Writing- Getting it right from the start
Overview
Follow the journey from sensory mark making to writing a series of simple sentences with accuracy and ease. This is essential CPD for F0, F1, and F2 Early Years teachers and Leaders of Early Years or English.
Attendees will:
- Secure a clear understanding of the most recent research underpinning best practice in writing.
- Develop a thorough, lasting, step-by-step approach through a progression in writing with high expectations.
- Deconstruct the act of writing for tailored activities with a clear focus on language for learning and the physical act of becoming a writer.
- Reflect on the many ways writing can be developed through high-quality formal and informal EYFS provision.
- Use a strategic framework for writing development across the EYFS.
- Apply simple and effective best practice principles in classrooms straight away.
- Achieve notable progress through a structured, engaging, language-rich approach.
Each session will include:
- A combination of subject knowledge and a strong pedagogical element for instant practical application.
- Intrinsic links to phonics programmes.
- Networking and shared examples.
- Worked examples and case studies of the Early Years writing process in action.
- Gap tasks to develop practice and develop new ideas.
Evidence-based publications referenced throughout this programme:
- Strong Foundations in the First Years of School (Ofsted, 2024)
- The Writing Framework (DfE, 2025)
Course Content
Session 1: Creative composition through high-quality interactions, adult as scribe and structured, meaningful talk activities.
Session 2: Terrific transcription from big moves to accurately formed letters.
Gap task: Trial at least 1 new compositional and 1 transcriptional activity, to evaluate and evaluate in Session 3.
Session 3: Successful scaffolding through simple and highly effective shared and guided writing approaches
Gap task: Video an example of your teaching of shared and guided writing to analyse and evaluate in Session 4.
Session 4: Further develop shared and guided writing through video coaching. Improve early years authorship through active, independent writing.
Gap task: Evaluate and develop the quality and quantity of independent writing opportunities, including the adult’s role in incidental writing.
Session 5: Planning for progression. Creating a structured, systematic plan for long-term engagement in writing through a holistic and immersive approach.
When completing this booking form, you will be booked onto all the training dates as below. (The booking confirmation will only show the date for session 1)
Session dates
Sessions 1 and 2: 7th October 2025, 9am to 4pm at NSPCC
Session 3: 19th November 2025, 9am to 12noon at NSPCC
Session 4: 4th February 2026, 1pm to 4pm at NSPCC
Session 5: 18th March 2026, 1pm to 4pm at NSPCC
Please note: In addition to the above dates, an impact session will be attended by English Subject Leaders only (not the teacher delegate) at the end of the programme. Leaders will share the impact of the CPD training programme on teacher practice and lower achieving pupils’ writing, including new arrivals and those with SEND, across the school. This session is included as part of the Strategic Leadership of English meetings.
Recommended for
Teachers in F1 and F2
For schools signing up to the Teaching Strong Foundations in Writing courses, it is recommended that English Leads would benefit from attending the Strategic Leadership of English course.
For example:
School A
Strategic Leadership of English - English Lead
Teaching Strong Foundations in Writing EY – EY teacher
Teaching Strong Foundations in Writing Y1-Y2 – KS1 teacher
Teaching Strong Foundations in Writing Y3-Y6 – KS2 teacher
Venue
NSPCC National Training Centre, 3 Gilmour Close, Leicester LE4 1EZ
Cost
Free for Leicester City maintained schools. £375 for non-maintained city schools and all Leicestershire schools.
Further Information
For further information, visit the PDL website or contact sonia.dayal@sdsa.net