Reading into Writing: Blog items
Date: 5th Mar 2026 @ 5:01pm
Today, we celebrated World book day by dressing up as characters from our favourite books. Once we returned from assembly we did a circle time in class to tell our friends who we dressed up as and why we had chosen that character. Then, we drew our characters and used descriptive language to describe them. Throughout the day, we have enjoyed completing reading challenges, participating in quizzes and doing reading themed activities. Well done Year 1- you all looked amazing!
Date: 5th Mar 2026 @ 1:50pm
Year 5 celebrated World Book Day in style with a fantastic day full of books, creativity and fun. The children came to school dressed as their favourite book characters, showing off a wonderful range of imaginative costumes inspired by stories they love.
They took part in an exciting assembly where everyone celebrated the joy of reading together. The pupils also tested their book knowledge by taking part in a fun and challenging book quiz.
One of the highlights of the day was a live session with Cressida Cowell, the author of the How to Train Your Dragon series. During the session, the children learned more about the book, discovered how the story and characters were created, and even had the opportunity to learn how to draw some of the characters.
Date: 5th Mar 2026 @ 1:45pm
This morning we took part in a ‘What am I?’ themed world book day quiz. We then created our own riddles for our characters. We then looked at what makes a good book cover and we created our own. Finally, we made bookmarks for our reading books. We enjoyed listening to lots of stories today and we loved dressing up!
Year 3 Celebrate World Book Day 2026!
Date: 5th Mar 2026 @ 11:48am
What an incredible World Book Day we have had in Year 3! Mrs Rose and Miss Edge (also known today as Snow White and Happy!) were absolutely amazed by the creativity and effort the children put into their outfits as they welcomed the children into the classroom. Our classrooms were filled with a magical mix of characters, from Willy Wonka and Where's Wally to Dorothy from Oz, a Roman soldier, Matilda, Disney princesses, action heroes, Mr Men characters, Harry Potter, Darth Vader and even some brilliant David Walliams characters. We began our day with a whole‑school assembly, thinking about what we find fun and how reading can bring joy, imagination and excitement into everyday life.
After assembly, we had the fantastic opportunity to join V&A Schools Live: Primary Read and Draw-Along webinar. We listened to the wonderful Cressida Cowell, who shared how she carefully planned her How to Train Your Dragon series from the very beginning, using meticulous notes and ideas to build her world. She also read from her collection, transporting us into the adventures of Hiccup and Toothless. The children especially loved the step-by-step draw‑along where they created their very own illustration of Hiccup. It was a brilliant experience that inspired creativity, storytelling and a deeper love of reading across the year group.
Year 5 - Characterising speech in Reading into Writing
Date: 4th Mar 2026 @ 11:41am
Today in Year 5, we explored how to characterise speech. The children imagined what a bear might say in different situations and then enriched their dialogue by adding emotion, actions and thoughts to bring the character to life.
They carefully considered how the bear was feeling and showed this through expressive word choices, detailed action beats and insightful inner thoughts. It was wonderful to see how confidently they applied skills from previous lessons, including the use of fronted adverbials to add variety and detail to their sentences. They also demonstrated a secure understanding of how to punctuate direct speech accurately.
The children will then apply this to their fable planning later in the unit.
Date: 27th Feb 2026 @ 7:30am
The first book we have explored in Year One this half term is Monkey Puzzle. After we had read the book, we thought about who the main characters are, what the book is about and where the story was set. Then, we used our knowledge to sequence pictures from the book and match the correct sentences to the picture. Yesterday, we began to retell the story in our own words and have enjoyed exploring the Monkey Puzzle themed provision around the classroom!
Date: 26th Feb 2026 @ 10:09am
As part of our new Reading into Writing Journey, we are looking at fables. Some children in Year 5 have taken their WAGOLL immersion to the next level and, taking the features which they have identified, have improved a WAGOLL which had missing features. This lesson also involoved some more complicated Computing skills as they had to edit an existing document, spell check and correct the formatting as well as improve the text itself! Well done Year 5!
Year 6 - Letters of persuasion
Date: 23rd Feb 2026 @ 4:38pm
Year 6 Begin Their Persuasive Writing Journey!
This week, Year 6 have embarked on an exciting new writing adventure: letters of persuasion! Our mission is to learn how to write confidently and convincingly—just like real campaigners, activists, and opinion leaders.
To kick things off, we explored a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like). By reading it carefully, we pulled out all the key features that make persuasive letters so powerful. We spotted things like:
- Strong opening statements
- Clear arguments backed up with evidence
- Emotive language to make the reader care
- Rhetorical questions that make you stop and think
- Powerful conclusions that leave a lasting impression
Once we understood what makes a persuasive letter successful, we moved on to reading a range of other examples. This helped us build a toolkit of useful stock phrases, such as:
- “Surely you agree that…”
- “It is essential that…”
- “Have you ever considered…?”
- “Without immediate action…”
We also learned how important it is to use the right register—that means choosing words and tone that suit the audience. Whether we’re writing to a headteacher, a local councillor, or even a famous figure, we now know how to sound polite, confident, and persuasive.
Year 6 are already showing fantastic promise, and we can’t wait to see the brilliant letters they produce next. Watch this space for updates on our writing journey!
Date: 23rd Feb 2026 @ 12:19pm
Date: 20th Feb 2026 @ 4:22pm
During phonics this half term we have been busy learning our phase 3 digraphs. We have taken part in our daily phonics session where we have been recognising, reading and writing new words and phrases. During provision time we have been practicing our reading and writing skills and developing our independance when segmenting and blending words with phase 3 digraphs and trigraphs.
Date: 10th Feb 2026 @ 3:05pm
Year 6 Write Powerful Lindisfarne Monologues
This week, Year 6 have been learning about the Viking attack on Lindisfarne in 793 AD. To help them understand what it might have felt like, the children wrote monologues from the point of view of a monk living in the monastery.
✍️ What We Did
The class learned about:
- What life was like for monks
- How the Vikings arrived on longships
- Why the attack was so shocking
- How to show a character’s thoughts and feelings in writing
After this, the children imagined they were monks and wrote their own monologues describing the terrifying moment the Vikings arrived.
🌟 What We’re Proud Of
The monologues were:
- Detailed – with great descriptions of sounds, sights, and emotions
- Creative – many children used strong vocabulary and dramatic language
- Thoughtful – the writing showed real understanding of how the monks might have felt
Year 6 worked extremely hard and produced some fantastic pieces of writing!
Date: 7th Feb 2026 @ 7:39am
Year 3 Dive into Imagination with Author Dan Worsley
Our Year 3 students were treated to an unforgettable morning when the amazing author Dan Worsley visited to deliver one of his high‑energy storytelling workshops. From the moment he began, Dan’s animated style had every child completely hooked.
With his trademark enthusiasm, Dan transported the children straight to a mysterious, litter‑strewn beach. There, looming among the piles of rubbish, was a bizarre sea creature like no other. The children gasped as they imagined it's eight long, thick tentacles, crooked, jagged teeth, and a circular,red eye capable of shooting a laser beam. This strange creature devoured every scrap of rubbish it could find—but despite his helpful intentions, he accidentally frightened the local people, who chased him away. Without their unexpected helper, the rubbish quickly began to pile up again…
Dan’s storytelling not only captured the children's imaginations but inspired them to create worlds of their own. After the tale, the Year 3 pupils set to work sketching their own unique sea creatures, each more inventive than the last. They eagerly described what their creatures looked like, how they behaved, and what magical or monstrous abilities they possessed.
The classroom buzzed with creativity, laughter, and excitement. It was clear the children thoroughly enjoyed every moment of their workshop. Many left still chatting animatedly about their creatures—and they absolutely cannot wait for Dan Worsley’s next visit.
A huge thank you to Dan for igniting such imaginative thinking. We’re already looking forward to the next adventure!
Date: 6th Feb 2026 @ 4:03pm
We have been reading the story Lost and Found about a little boy and a penguin.To his surprise, the boy finds a penguin standing outside his door, and assumes the penguin must be lost. The boy is determined to help this sad and lonely visitor and sets off on an epic quest to help the penguin get back home.
Take a look at how we painted and collaged a penguin and wrote words about the story and it's characters.
Year 4 - R.A.P. with Alim Kamara
Date: 4th Feb 2026 @ 4:26pm
As part of National Storytelling Week 2026, our Year 4 pupils enjoyed an inspiring online workshop led by storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara. The session, delivered live via Zoom, was a vibrant celebration of music, rhythm and the power of storytelling.
The workshop formed part of the National Literacy Trust’s nationwide events for Key Stage 2, designed to help children explore how stories can be told through sound, lyrics and performance. During the interactive session, pupils learned how storytelling and rap can come together to create powerful narratives. They were guided through the process of shaping their own lyrics and experimenting with rhythm—discovering firsthand how words can come alive through music.
The event formed part of this year’s national theme, “Soundtrack Your Story”, celebrating how music can enhance storytelling and ignite children’s love for reading and writing. Supported by the National Literacy Trust and the National Year of Reading 2026, the workshop provided a rich opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence, creativity and enjoyment of literacy.
Date: 3rd Feb 2026 @ 4:23pm
Year 5 have moved on to exploring persuasive advertisements. They have applied their prior learning from persuasive arguments to the context of advertising. As a class, we have identified the similarities and differences between persuasive writing and advertisements, and have analysed the key features of a persuasive leaflet designed to encourage people to visit York. Pupils have examined how the features are used to influence the reader. Next, we will explore a range of other persuasive adverts to compare techniques and deepen understanding.
Year 5 - National Story Telling Week - R.A.P
Date: 3rd Feb 2026 @ 11:55am
Year 5 Celebrate National Storytelling Week with Alim Kamara
As part of National Storytelling Week 2026, our Year 5 pupils enjoyed an inspiring online workshop led by storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara. The session, delivered live via Zoom, was a vibrant celebration of music, rhythm and the power of storytelling.
The workshop formed part of the National Literacy Trust’s nationwide events for Key Stage 2, designed to help children explore how stories can be told through sound, lyrics and performance. During the interactive session, pupils learned how storytelling and rap can come together to create powerful narratives. They were guided through the process of shaping their own lyrics and experimenting with rhythm—discovering firsthand how words can come alive through music.
Throughout the 45‑minute session, Alim Kamara captivated the children with his energy, enthusiasm and creative approach. Year 5 particularly enjoyed collaborating on a class rap, using ideas shared during the workshop to craft imaginative verses that told a story with both meaning and momentum.
The event formed part of this year’s national theme, “Soundtrack Your Story”, celebrating how music can enhance storytelling and ignite children’s love for reading and writing. Supported by the National Literacy Trust and the National Year of Reading 2026, the workshop provided a rich opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence, creativity and enjoyment of literacy.
Year 5 thoroughly embraced the experience, and we are excited to continue building on their enthusiasm in our upcoming storytelling and creative writing projects.
Date: 2nd Feb 2026 @ 4:47pm
This week, we celebrated storytelling week with a visit from Dan Worsley. We had a special story-telling assembly where Dan told us a story using props to help him and showing his excellent imagination. In the classroom, we have enjoyed using props in the story-telling area to create our own stories as well as creating our own front covers and creative characters for our stories.
Year 1- The Girl with Two Dads
Date: 2nd Feb 2026 @ 4:42pm
Today, we began our writing journey based on the book 'The girl with two dads'. After we had read and discussed the story, we retold the story focusing on applying our learning so far to use time conjunctions, finger spaces, capital letters and full stops.
Year 6 - Story-telling webinar
Date: 2nd Feb 2026 @ 1:28pm
Year 6 Celebrate National Storytelling Week with Alim Kamara
As part of National Storytelling Week 2026, our Year 6 pupils enjoyed an inspiring online workshop led by storyteller and rapper Alim Kamara. The session, delivered live via Zoom, was a vibrant celebration of music, rhythm and the power of storytelling.
The workshop formed part of the National Literacy Trust’s nationwide events for Key Stage 2, designed to help children explore how stories can be told through sound, lyrics and performance. During the interactive session, pupils learned how storytelling and rap can come together to create powerful narratives. They were guided through the process of shaping their own lyrics and experimenting with rhythm—discovering firsthand how words can come alive through music.
Throughout the 45‑minute session, Alim Kamara captivated the children with his energy, enthusiasm and creative approach. Year 5 particularly enjoyed collaborating on a class rap, using ideas shared during the workshop to craft imaginative verses that told a story with both meaning and momentum.
The event formed part of this year’s national theme, “Soundtrack Your Story”, celebrating how music can enhance storytelling and ignite children’s love for reading and writing. Supported by the National Literacy Trust and the National Year of Reading 2026, the workshop provided a rich opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence, creativity and enjoyment of literacy.
We thoroughly embraced the experience, and we are excited to continue building on their enthusiasm in our upcoming storytelling and creative writing projects.
Date: 30th Jan 2026 @ 11:11am
Since returning from Christmas the children in Reception have been learning their new phase 3 sounds in thir daily phonics lesson. To help the children apply their learning they have had several opportunities during continuous provision practice reading and writing words containing the phase 3 sounds. Have a lok at our learning.
Date: 29th Jan 2026 @ 7:57am
This week, the children explored the story Julian Is a Mermaid, focusing on the message behind the text and its link to managing and challenging stereotypes. They discussed common stereotypes, such as the idea that girls can’t play football, and shared their own views and experiences. The lesson also developed Oracy skills, with a focus on probing, challenging, agreeing with, and building on others’ ideas. The children made links between these discussion skills and dialogue between characters in a playscript. They also discussed the importance of asking questions and using body language to show active listening and respect for others’ opinions.
Date: 29th Jan 2026 @ 7:32am
This week, we have been continuing with our book The Smartest Giant. Over the last couple of days we focused on using adjectives to describe some of the characters from the story. Then, we wrote our own sentences to describe the character we had chosen.
Date: 27th Jan 2026 @ 1:31pm
Date: 26th Jan 2026 @ 12:23pm
This week, we completed our class shared writes. Our genre is a setting description. We used our knowledge of the features of a setting description to write parts of a description then piece them together. We included similes, personification, a variety of sentence openers and powerful vocabulary.
Date: 23rd Jan 2026 @ 7:50am
This half term in Phonics, we have been focusing on alternative sounds for graphemes already taught. Yesterday, we were looking at alternative for 'ee' being 'ey'. We discussed how the 'ey' would typically come at the end of the word and the 'ee' and 'ea' would usually be in the middle to help us differentiate when spelling. We practised reading lots of words with the diagraph in before attemtping to applying our new knowledge to writing.
