Why do we use Talk for Writing?

02-11-2026

Over the past two years, in primary we have been working with Talk for Writing, a teaching model developed by children’s author, poet and educator Pie Corbett, designed to scaffold language learning and support the development of writing skills in young children. Talk for Writing has been specifically chosen for our school for its success in the UK in supporting learners for whom English is an additional language.

By Oliver Allport, Classroom Teacher Grade 1 Blue, Grade Level Coordinator KG-Grade 1 and Talk for Writing Specialist

Since two years we have been developing an approach to teaching writing that supports our children in becoming confident and capable writers who genuinely enjoy telling stories. The primary team receives regular training  from Talk for Writing (TfW) consultant Maria Richards, who has been working with the school to support the implementation of the model. 


How does the TfW model work?

The Talk for Writing teaching model is divided into three main stages.

1. Imitation – In this stage, children are introduced to a model text that has been carefully written to demonstrate specific writing features that teachers want them to learn. The model text is supported by a story map, a series of simple images designed to help children learn to retell the text by heart. Learning and internalising the text helps children develop an understanding of language patterns at both sentence and paragraph level.

2. Innovation – This stage uses the model text as a springboard for creativity. Children begin to adapt the text by changing, improving or extending elements of the story while retaining some of its underlying language patterns. For example, students might choose to change the setting or character but keep the story elements the same. Through activities such as shared writing, children have opportunities to practise and apply the language features they are learning.

3. Invention – This final stage sees children apply what they have learnt to create an entirely new piece of writing. With support from the model text, their experience during the innovation stage, and the language skills they have worked on, children work towards producing a final piece of writing independently.

The T4W model works with these picture posters Teachers during a staff study day doing a course about the Talk for Writing Model
Our Talk 4 Writing consultant spent the staff study day with the primary team working on the T4W model Talk for Writing works with story picture posters to help children recount a story

What can families do to support writing in school?

Nothing supports writing in school more than reading with your child. Listening to high-quality literature in a child’s home language is the most effective way to develop their understanding of how stories work. The building of vocabulary, the hearing of language patterns and of course, the pure enjoyment of a good story, all help children develop the foundations in becoming a confident and capable writer.


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