Write Here Write Now
Developing literacy skills, confidence and imagination
Write Here Write Now is a fully funded 2-year project which supports Year 3 children with building their confidence, self-esteem and imagination to help them achieve their full literacy potential. Through creative approaches we support local schools in raising literacy, language and communication skills for participants.
In the first year Polka practitioners work alongside teachers to establish the needs of each group to deliver a tailor-made programme of workshops throughout the Spring and Summer terms with ten Year 3 children in each school. In the second year of the project we map the progress of the children who took part, and to further strengthen relationships with the schools we offer a free follow up workshop and tickets to a Polka Theatre show for all children in Year 4.
Write Here Write Now aims to:
- Increase creative confidence
- Develop vocabulary and comprehension
- Stimulate creativity and imagination
- Promote creative collaboration and
- Encourage children to reflect creatively on their own experiences
- Encourage children to express ideas and opinions in their writing
- Inspire children to create their own stories
- Promote pleasure in reading and motivation to read
Participating Schools receive:
- 20 creative workshops throughout the Spring and Summer terms
- Participant scrapbooks and printed resources
- A CPD training session for all Year 3 teachers
- A visit from a professional storyteller for participants
- A celebration event at Polka Theatre at the end of the project
- A free workshop for all Year 4 children in the second year of the project.
- Free tickets for a Polka Theatre show for all Year 4 children during the second year of the project.
- The project scheme of work
Findings from previous years:
- 96% of children had increased confidence after taking part in the WHWN project
- Teachers agreed that 96% of children had improved their creativity, ideas and imagination
- Teachers agreed that 90% of children had improved their ability to structure a story or piece of written work
- 85% of children had improved their ability to communicate their ideas
How to apply:
Applications for Write Here Write Now have now closed for 2025. Please check back on this page to see when applications open for 2026.
“The Polka practitioner was very experienced and delivered their sessions in a way that was child friendly, engaging and filled with excellent practical ideas that I will be able to use in my future sessions to support creative writing.”
Year 3 Teacher, Sherwood Primary School
“As an English subject lead, I thought the WHWN project provided valuable CPD for the teachers who were inspired to introduce the activities in their lessons. They became more confident in using drama, which meant a positive impact for the whole class.”
Assistant Headteacher for English & Reading Recovery, Malmsbury Primary School
“Most of the children selected were underachieving for a variety of issues, not least social and emotional and lower confidence and self-esteem. Their involvement in the Write Here Write Now project has impacted this and they are all more confident…The children were free from the pressure to write that the curriculum often places on them and, as a result, their writing improved. Thanks so much for the opportunity!”
Year 3 Teacher, Kings Oak Primary School
A special thank you to our supporters
Sabine Elkington
L&Q Foundation
Rowan Bentall Charitable Trust
Lendscape
Paul Hamlyn Foundation