Level 3 writing: for a reader and a purpose
Six units for children aged 10 to 12, Years 5 and 6. They choose form and register to suit purpose and audience: a dialogue scene, persuasive letter, balanced argument, news report, biography and poem.
Three big ideas
Purpose, audience, form. Children decide who they are writing for and why, then choose the form and tone.
Cohesion across a text. They link ideas within and across paragraphs and structure longer pieces.
Control of language. Relative clauses, modal verbs, the passive, figurative language and formal register are used on purpose.
Pick a unit
Units can be taught in order or chosen to match your topic. Each has a model text, oral rehearsal games, a sentence skill, a planning frame, a teacher script, a task with support and stretch, success criteria and a publishing template.
Narrative with dialogue
Children write a narrative scene of 200 to 300 words that includes at least six lines of correctly punctuated speech, setting description and a clear turn in the plot.
Unit 2 · Persuasive letterA persuasive letter
Children write a formal letter with a clear opinion, three reasons with evidence, a rhetorical question, modal verbs and a call to action.
Unit 3 · Discussion textA balanced argument
Children write a four-paragraph balanced argument with an introduction, points for, points against and a conclusion that gives a reasoned view.
Unit 4 · Newspaper reportA newspaper report
Children write a headline, a lead paragraph answering the five Ws, two or three further paragraphs with direct and reported quotes, and a closing line.
Unit 5 · BiographyA biography
Children write a biography of four paragraphs: an introduction, early life, key achievements, and legacy, using relative clauses and time adverbials.
Unit 6 · PoemPoetry with figurative language
Children write a poem of eight to twelve lines on a theme using at least one simile, one metaphor and one example of personification, and perform it aloud.
How writing grows
- Early yearsNursery and Reception · pre-CEFR
- Level 1Years 1 and 2 · Pre-A1 to A1
- Level 2Years 3 and 4 · A1 to A2
- Level 3Years 5 and 6 · A2 to B1
Bridge English: Level 3, ages 10 to 14. Open the Level 3 curriculum.
What to look for
Use these in the checking and publishing sessions. Judge composition separately from handwriting and spelling, so a child who struggles with transcription is not marked down for good ideas.
| Area | What you are looking for |
|---|---|
| Purpose and audience | Chooses a suitable form and register. Keeps a consistent tone. |
| Structure and cohesion | Organises paragraphs around a theme and links ideas with a range of cohesive devices. |
| Grammar | Uses relative clauses, modal verbs and the passive where they fit. Tense and agreement are consistent. |
| Vocabulary and effect | Chooses precise vocabulary and figurative language. Cuts weak words to improve impact. |
| Evaluating and editing | Assesses their own and others' writing, proposes changes, proofreads, and performs or reads aloud clearly. |
Sentence skills used at this level
Frames, checklist and templates
Every planning frame, editing checklist and publishing template prints on one A4 page. The frames are on each unit page. Here are the quick links.
Curriculum and evidence
The units follow the Years 5 and 6 writing composition statements: identify audience and purpose, select the form and use similar writing as a model, note and develop ideas, select grammar and vocabulary, integrate dialogue, build cohesion within and across paragraphs, use organisational devices, evaluate and edit, and perform their own compositions. Sentence skills follow Appendix 2 for Years 5 and 6.
The EEF Key Stage 2 literacy guidance recommends teaching writing composition strategies through modelling and supported practice, and developing transcription and sentence construction skills through extensive practice.
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (DfE)
- English Appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation (DfE)
- Improving Literacy in Key Stage 2 (EEF)
Last checked 7 November 2026. Statements are paraphrased.