Writing in Year 2
Writing
Subject Leader
Mrs A Brasier-Creagh
Colourful Semantics
Colourful Semantics is a Speech and Language therapy intervention programme developed by a speech and language therapist called Alison Bryan. In the programme, she used colour to highlight the semantic (meaning) within sentences. This intervention uses colour coded cards to help children learn the important elements of a sentence and how to join them together in the correct order.
At Elston Hall we are have recently introduced Colourful Semantics throughout the school in all areas of the curriculum but primarily for teaching writing.
Pupil Voice
Writing
Editing
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David Attenborough Day 2026
We marked the occasion of David’s 100th birthday by focusing on our writing skills, with children across the school exploring a variety of genres inspired by the work and achievements of this remarkable man. Here are just a few examples — visit our blog to see more.
Descriptive writing in Year 1
Letter writing in Year 2
Persuasive Writing in Year 4
Non-chronological Report in Year 3
Writing in Nursery and Reception
Fine Motor Control
Click on the book cover to read our fantastic sentences.
Writing in Year 1
Instructions
Year 1 have been using colourful semantics to retell a story and write a recount.
Read our incredible setting descriptions.
Writing in Year 4
Writing in Year 6
Stepping into Stanley's Shoes!
Based on the book 'Holes' by Louis Sachar, children arrived on Monday morning to find their classroom had become Camp Green Lake. Using the text, we imagined and role played the main character, Stanley, and his uncomfortable journey by bus to the Camp in the middle of Texas. Stanley is sent to the camp as a punishment, but claims he is innocent. We read about his first few days and then acted them out, using Freeze frames.
Digging into Stanley's World!
Stanley and the other boys spend their days being made to dig holes - five foot deep and five feet wide - in the unbearable Texas heat. To help us get into character, we were handed a spade during morning play and quickly realised as a team how hard it is to dig a hole! We really began to appreciate Stanley's perspective.
Following this, over the next few days, we have been pulling apart and analysing Louis Sachar's writing to see how the story events build and the impact on the character's emotions.
We also then hotseated Stanley, asking him questions and creating his likely answers adding details from our imagination.
We can't wait to start writing our diaries now, from Stanley's point of view!
We love writing at Elston Hall and this week we had some great news. Year 4 recently entered a Young Writers Wonderverse competition, where they created poems about fantastic beasts.
We are thrilled this week to hear that all 83 children who entered that day have been chosen, to have their work published in an upcoming book. This means we are published authors! We are very proud of them all and can't wait for the copies to arrive in the Summer Term.
Handwriting
Here at Elston Hall, we take pride in producing beautifully presented work. Take a look at how we have been practising our handwriting and some of our best efforts.
Children practise handwriting daily in Key Stage 1 and when they have achieved 10 ticks on their presentation card they get to choose a special pencil. Children in Key Stage 2 are also rewarded for having super handwriting by achieving their pen license.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 5
Year 6
