Nursery (Age 3–4)

In Nursery, we build the essential foundations that prepare children for writing in Reception and beyond. We recognise that writing begins with talk, movement, play and rich first-hand experiences.

Language development is at the heart of our Nursery provision. Through high-quality stories, rhymes, songs and sustained shared conversations, children develop confidence in speaking and listening, broaden their vocabulary and begin to understand how stories are structured.

Our Nursery Focus

• Communication and oracy – developing attention, listening and simple sentence formation
• Vocabulary development – introducing and modelling ambitious language through stories and play
• Physical foundations for writing – building gross motor strength (climbing, balancing, large-scale mark-making) and fine motor control (playdough, threading, construction, malleable materials)
• Mark-making and meaning – encouraging children to experiment with marks in a range of contexts and to give meaning to their creations
• Imagination and storytelling through play – developing early narrative skills through small world, role play and story retelling

By the end of Nursery, children are developing the physical control, language confidence and enjoyment of stories that prepare them for Reception.

Reception

In Reception, high-quality literature lies at the heart of our curriculum, shaping both planned learning and the wider provision. Carefully selected texts immerse children in rich vocabulary, imaginative worlds and meaningful storytelling. Through daily story experiences, children develop a deep love of books, language and communication, forming strong foundations for writing success.

Children work towards the Early Learning Goals, securing the knowledge and skills that underpin the Ready Steady Write approach from Year 1 onwards.

Our Reception Writing Focus

Talk continues to be an essential part of writing. We prioritise:

• Oracy and vocabulary development – extending language through high-quality texts, discussion and role play
• Story sequencing and narrative understanding – retelling and innovating familiar stories
• Sentence construction through oral rehearsal – using strategies such as the ‘Sentence Snake’ to hold and rehearse sentences before writing
• Dictated and shared sentences leading to independence – building confidence and accuracy

Alongside composition, we explicitly develop the physical skills required for writing:

• Gross motor strength – ensuring core stability and shoulder control
• Fine motor control – strengthening hand and finger muscles
• Letter motor patterns – practising correct formation for fluency
• Secure pencil grip and accurate letter formation – establishing strong writing habits.

Drawing Club in Reception

Our writing provision is enriched through Drawing Club, an imaginative approach that connects high-quality stories with talk, drawing and early writing.

Drawing Club supports:

• Creative expression linked to rich texts
• Structured storytelling and vocabulary development
• Fine motor development and purposeful mark-making
• Collaboration and shared idea development

By linking storytelling, illustration and sentence construction, Drawing Club strengthens both communication and transcription skills. It provides a purposeful bridge between talk, play and writing, ensuring children are fully prepared for the structured writing journey into Year 1 and beyond.