EYFS 

Autumn term

Letter formation, Placement and Positioning

Children in Early Years being their writing journey by building on what they have previously learnt in Nursery. They begin to give meaning to marks as they draw and paint and realise tools can be used for a purpose. Our teachers in Early Years encourage children at this stage to use one-handed tools and equipment and to hold a pencil between thumb and fingers, no longer using a whole-hand grasp. Moving throughout the first half term children learn to hold their pencil with increased control. By the end of the Autumn term, children in EYFS are able to draw line and circles using gross motor movements and can copy some letters, e.g. letters from their name. 

Planning, Writing and Editing

During the first half of the Autumn term children begin with 'emergent writing'. They learn to speak to retell a simple past event and are taught to place words in the correct order. Oral rehearsal is of a high priority at this stage in the year so children are taught to use talk to connect ideas, explain what is happening and anticipate what might happen next. They are also encouraged to use talk in play for example, pretending that objects stand for something else. This is then linked to imaginative role play based on their own first-hand experiences. 

Moving towards the end of the Autumn term, children in EYFS begin to build stories orally using story maps. 

EYFS 

Spring term

Letter formation, Placement and Positioning

Children in the Spring term start to build on the foundations secured in the Autumn term. Children can confidently give meaning to marks they make as they draw, write and paint and can use some clearly identifiable letters to communicate meaning, representing some sounds correctly and in sequence. 

Children are encouraged at this stage of their development to show a preference for a dominant hand and will begin to use anticlockwise movement and retrace vertical lines. 

By the end of the Spring term, children in EYFS are able to use a pencil and hold it effectively to form recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed.

Planning, Writing and Editing

During the Spring term children begin to make the move from talk to writing. They are taught to introduce a storyline or narrative into their play and can play cooperatively as part of a group to develop and act out a narrative. 

Children then progress to writing labels and captions before attempting to write short sentences in meaningful contexts.

Summer Term

Letter formation, Placement and Positioning

Children in EYFS in the Summer term consolidate their learning throughout the year and begin to prepare for Year One. They can show good control and co-ordination both in large and small movements and can handle

equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing. Children leave EYFS able to write simple phrases and sentences that can be read by others. 

Planning, Writing and Editing

By the time children leave EYFS they are able to develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events. In terms of spelling, children will

spell words by identifying sounds in them and will represent these sounds with a letter or letters.