Writing for pleasure strategies for teachers and schools
Challenges and solutions
Our latest children and young people’s writing report, supported by Twinkl, confirms a deepening disengagement from writing.
Taken from our Annual Literacy Survey of nearly 115,000 children and young people aged 5 to 18 from across the UK, the report paints a troubling picture of declining enjoyment, motivation and habits, with concerning long-term implications for learning and literacy outcomes.
Declining levels of writing enjoyment and engagement closely parallel worrying trends in academic performance. Writing now ranks as the lowest-performing area in national assessments, falling even below mathematics.
Our programmes are turning the tide
Building on 15 years of research and practice, we are committed to championing writing for pleasure as a vital part of every child and young person’s development.
We have drawn together evidence that shows how writing for enjoyment is associated with improved wellbeing, helping individuals process complex emotions, and supports children and young people in expressing themselves. We have also identified a link between writing for enjoyment and writing attainment.
Young writers programme
Our flagship Young Writers programme continues its crucial mission to embed writing for pleasure practices within schools.
After taking part in two of the programme’s longest running projects – Young Poets and Young Mystery Writers:
- Children’s levels of writing enjoyment rose by 18 percentage points (38.1% vs 56.1%)
- The percentage of pupils who thought stories and poetry were ‘fun’ doubled (26.3% vs 63.7%).
NEW: Young Poet Laureate programme
Be part of the first ever Young Poet Laureate programme and inspire the next generation to express themselves creatively through poetry in all its exciting forms – from rhyming couplets to rap, sonnets to spoken word!
Resources, training and programmes
We will continue to equip teachers with high-quality resources, cutting-edge research and practical CPD and training to not only empower and nurture a love of writing amongst the next generation, but also improve writing attainment.
Together, we can equip pupils with both the skill and the desire to express themselves through writing.
Resources
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The annual celebration of the power of writing creatively, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to try writing for fun and self-expression.Learn more
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Inspire writing for pleasure in your classroom with these writing prompts and games and find ways to tap into pupils' motivations for writing.Learn more
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Continue to nurture a love of literacy beyond the classroom with ideas that will keep the spark of reading and writing enjoyment alive during the summer holidays.Learn more
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Understand the latest findings on writing attitudes and behaviours among children and young people aged 5 to 18, and discover fun ways to explore and inspire writing for...Download our premium resource
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A dynamic early years writing resource for practitioners, supporting you to enhance your provision.Learn more
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Set up a writing club in your school to help establish a whole-school writing culture.Learn more
CPD and training
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A course to help Key Stage 2 teachers use memorable experiences and to teach self-regulation, building high quality writing.Book now for July 2025
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Our targeted intervention designed to Increase the writing skills and confidence of children in Key Stage 2 using self-motivation and metacognitive skills.Book now for September 2025
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Expert guidance and tools on how to lead writing for secondary practitioners.Book your place
Opportunities to participate in writing for pleasure programmes
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Discover our social action writing programme that empowers young people to share the stories that matter to them with a real audience and to drive change.Now recruiting for 2026
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Created by National Poetry Centre in partnership National Literacy Trust, and supported by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, the Young Poet Laureate Programme provides children...Now recruiting for 2025
Find out more about our programmes
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An exciting project for Bradford primary schools focusing on the development of writing as pupils move from Year 2 through to Year 4.Taking place in Bradford
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Could your students write persuasively about a positive change they would like to see in their local community? The Wicked Writers: Be the Change competition is now closed...Returning in 2026
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Bring the energy of contemporary poetry to your classroom with a our free poetry resources and inspire your students to become the next West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate.A pioneering programme in West Yorkshire
