How much writing do children do at school?

[Notcontent]

My dd is in year 4 and I am concerned that they don't do very much writing. She never has writing homework - spelling yet, but nothing else. I think ideally children should not just be reading every day but also writing every day too, as it's such an important skill, but I don't think they do much daily at school. Has that been anyone else's experience?

Reading record & spellings in homework (using word in a sentence) at that age (so about 1/2 page of A4 minimum). And maybe the same again in class as bare minimum? Most will do a lot more, by the time they cover different topics.

my kids do write in school and at home. DD especially has homework spelling words to write and sentences to do every week.

Notcontent

I think they do a lot of writing at school unless it has changed in the last few years.
Tbh, when we started H.ed we didn't bother with recording learning by writing in exercise books at all and dd didn't bother for about a year, she hated it.
She quite likes writing stories now and writes for pleasure.
For her it was diary and journal writing that helped.
Maybe get your dd to do this as an extra, its fun and she won't feel like she has to do extra work.

Handwriting practise everyday

One guided reading group will do a comprehension each day

They write in English every day

Depending on what they are going in the afternoon they will write, RE, history etc

Sounds like most schools have a lot more homework...

Morethan - I do actually get dd to do stuff like journals in the holidays, stories during term time, etc. But I just feel like I am already "topping up" so much at home, and they could be using the time more productively at school! Maybe I am just a pushy mother, but from what dd tells me it sounds like they sometimes spent two weeks planning a story and then very little time doing any actual writing...

Year 4 here in prep school and absolutely shed loads of writing - at parents evening last week I saw a whole range of stories, poems, diary entries and newspaper articles as well as weekly spellings and sentences and regular comprehensions. Eldest went right through in state primary and lack of writing was a major factor in moving our younger ones that's the single biggest difference I see between the 2 schools and was my major big bear with my eldest. I totally agree with you.

Our middle schools (years 5 - 8) recently had Ofsted criticising lack of writing. Too much poster-making, cartoon-strips, etc. The now defunct literacy strategy was widely criticised for too much time spent analysing stories and not enough writing, and its influence probably still lingers in some schools. There is also a historic problem (in my opinion) with too much emphasis on story-writing and not enough on academic-style writing as children get older. (The new national curriculum introduced this year is the first to even mention essay-writing for years 7-9.)

We have literacy homework but this is mainly grammar, re-writing a small piece with synonyms or comprehension.

In school they have twice a week handwriting practice and they write stories, normally made from several bullet points in connection to either the literacy class book or to any other term subject like history.

Cantdecide - I knew someone with children at private school would post about all the writing they do!!!

But honestly, I just think one of the main problems with British schools is that so much time is spent talking about stuff and doing various "projects"... I guess I will just have to do my best at home, during the limited time we have.

I think you are absolutely right. We topped up his writing with tutoring and weekly practice and it's absolutely the right thing to carry on as you are because when they get to secondary they do need to write a lot and if they aren't used to it they struggle. They struggle with writing a significant amount and they struggle with structuring their work. It's such an important skill especially for children for whom it might not come naturally. DS has certainly been held back as his basic core skills aren't good enough even though the content and his understanding is excellent

DD does loads of writing at school. And has to incorporate her spelling words into a mini-story for homework each week.
And she voluntarily writes for her school newsletter.

I suspect it would be easy to get away with doing much less though.

My yr4 dd doesn't come home with any writing homework other than grammar types hw now I think about it. But she enjoys writing stuff out of YouTube and online game etc as fun. Last weekend she composed a short poet to give to her little 4 yrs old friend. Dd sometimes write little stories to send to their baby cousins. So I am quite relax about writing hw.
Would you encourage your DC to write something for fun.

Inner city state primary here and shed loads of writing. Every day handwriting practice, creative or factual writing. Big long form projects termly too called 'Big Write' week.

You've said she doesn't get writing homework but you don't know how much she does in school ( you don't think much) but have you asked?
All our classes write every day in English lessons as well as in Science, History, Geography, RE and often in DT. You may be surprised to find she writes much more than you think.
I rarely send home writing homework but their is no reason children can't write at home if they wish. Many of my class bring in pieces from home.

mrz

This is what I believed happened in all schools tbh. As dd was a reluctant writer this was why we were happy to be able to leave it for a while until she was ready. She wrote in exercise books for most subjects I believe because she brought them home when she finished school.
Is there a difference between individual schools do you think?

There is a difference between individual schools but like you I think most schools write every day across the curriculum.

I think any writing experience children have can be a huge benefit. What helped our dd was not having to write, I know this isn't possible at school.
Just bubble writing and doodling with colours, shopping lists, posters, diaries and journals, post its, thank you letters, greeting cards, notes to friends.
Its amazing when you look, just how much practice they are getting.

Thanks all. It may be that she is doing more writing at school than I think she does - I certainly hope so! I am probably over anxious about it because I think it's such a key skill...