GDS and writing in year 6: keeping things focused now time is short

In this blog, Martin Galway further explores the requirements for awarding GDS in writing in year 6. He offers some time-efficient suggestions to help...

Take one book: Christmas special!

Christmas is coming, and it is time to dig out the usual array of Christmassy texts to inspire a seasonal unit of reading and writing.

A field guide to great writing

Children bursting with excitement and brimming with pride: isn’t that every teacher’s dream ....

Celebrating freedom with national poetry day

In this short blog, Michelle Nicholson presents some ideas to do with your class on National Poetry Day, which takes the theme of ‘freedom’ this year...

Primary writing ITAFs: what's new; what's changed; what's gone

Another new school year, another assessment framework – but just how different is it?

Celebrating primary writing: Love That Book…and run with it

Martin Galway shares some of the wonderful work carried out by the pupils and staff at Hare Street Primary School, Harlow, inspired by the Love That...

Come aboard the hogwarts express!

Monday 26th June 2017 marks twenty years since the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. In this blog, Michelle Nicholson...

Year 6 writing – in search of GDS: verb forms – the key to control

Martin Galway completes his series of blogs on the Greater Depth writing standard for year 6 writing and makes good on his earlier promise to return...

KS1 writing: what a wonderful sentence that is!

This blog explored aspects of the 2017 KS1 ITAFs for children's writing. While much of the advice is still relevant, reference must be made to the...

The power of a good book – leading the way to successful grammar teaching

In this blog, Kathy Roe looks at the invaluable role that high quality texts can play in supporting children’s knowledge and understanding of grammar...