Nursery World - Learning & Development: Literacy

How one nursery school has boosted boys’ writing. By Elizabeth Leer

In response to a significant gender gap in children’s writing at our school, we embarked on an action research project to investigate the barriers to boys’ engaging in writing activities and devised strategies to help them become confident writers. As well as benefiting individual children within an Intervention Group, the project has had a positive impact on all boys.

Based in Luton, Rothesay Nursery School caters for children aged two to four, most of whom have English as an additional language. We also cater for children with severe and complex special needs. Our 2014-2015 data for children’s emergent writing showed that 90 per cent of girls were at expected levels, compared with 82 per cent of the boys, and while 42 per cent of girls were working above expectations, the figure for boys was just 18 per cent.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included