The Write from the Beginning project was a collaboration between researchers at IOE's International Literacy Centre, Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre and the East London Research School, with funding from UCL East Community Engagement seed grant. The UCL team included Dr Sinéad Harmey, Dr Jennifer Chung and Isidora Castillo Raban.
Teaching practices within the home or community are known to contribute significantly to children’s literacy. Therefore, the UCL researchers aimed to collaboratively share and compile strategies that develop children’s writing abilities and to create a place that encourages them to write.
The collaborative element was essential in recognition of parents’ and guardians’ own expertise, and the workshops were designed to acknowledge the participants’ diverse language and cultural experiences.
The project consisted of five morning workshops for 12 families after guardians or parents dropped the children off at nursery. The workshops were informal and focused on participants’ enjoyment, using physical activities and storytelling to support writing.
Families, nursery staff and UCL researchers went through physical movements, such as walking, crawling and playing with modelling clay to support the development of strong hands for writing.
Other activities focused on sharing and writing stories to develop the understanding that writing is language written down, such as by drawing on paper and telling stories together in any language or form, and celebrating instances where participants switched between languages.
By engaging directly with East London communities, the team hoped to bridge gaps between research and practice, and identify sustainable and meaningful ways to collaborate with these communities.
Lindsey Foster, Headteacher at Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, says “It was great to see parents involved and feeling confident about the evidence-based strategies to support their children’s writing.”
The project was nominated for Excellence in Co-Creation at the 2024 UCL East Engagement Awards, which recognise projects that have exemplified mutually beneficial engagement between UCL and local communities in East London. Dr Harmey was also nominated for an Engagement Leader award.
Write from the Beginning has been awarded a UCL East Community Engagement Development grant to continue the project.
The East London Research School and the International Literacy Centre will partner with early childhood educators in nursery settings in Newham to learn how they can use the approaches trialled with parents during the workshops.
Through workshops and school visits, they aim to support five early childcare educators in different settings to implement this approach in their own classrooms.
Links
- Read the report on UCL Discovery: Write from the beginning
- Find out more: UCL East Funded community projects
- UCL Engagement: Engaging with East London
- Dr Sinéad Harmey’s UCL profile
- International Literacy Centre
- Department of Learning and Leadership
Image
Ondre Roach, Mediorite.
TCRU researchers lead the conversation at International Child and Family Conference
An expert team from UCL’s Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU) will be presenting front and centre at the conference taking place at the University of Bristol next week.
10 Jun 2025
Making sure everyone matters: Evelyn Forde tells 'herstory'
Evelyn Forde shares her lived experience, from not feeling she mattered in school to becoming headteacher of the year.
06 Jun 2025
Empowering agency: Collaborating with children in the context of migration
Dr Sara Young reflects on her experiences collaborating with children in the context of migration.
30 May 2025