The Writing Lives of Children and Young People

The National Literacy Trust's (NLT) seminal Annual Literacy Survey has reported over a decade (2010 - 2022) of research demonstrating persistent low levels of writing motivation and practices among children and young people. Most recently, only 20.5% of children and young people reported choosing to write daily (Clark et al, 2022, based on >70,000, aged 5-18). In addition, the pandemic has had a considerable impact on writing levels, with 2022 government data illustrating that fewer children left primary school in England writing at the expected level compared with 2019 (69% vs. 78%). This project aims to understand 1) demographic and developmental factors associated with children and young people's writing
motivations and practices and 2) the relationship between children and young people's writing motivation, practices and their writing experiences (messages and environment). To achieve this, the NLT will provide access to the data from their 2024 Annual Literacy Survey (Study 1, Aim 1), and in-depth interviews with children and young people (total n = 60, aged 8-11; 11-14; 14-16) will follow (Study 2, Aim 2). Finally, a new writing survey will be created, informed by Study 1 and 2, to measure children and young people's writing motivations, practices and experiences, coupled with demographic information and writing attainment (n= ~600, age 8-16) (Study 3, Aims 1 and 2). The project will develop diverse research skills within the student (secondary data analysis, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, open research practices, data management, research-practice partnership, ethical standards, diverse dissemination approaches). Working closely with NLT, this project will inform their existing writing programmes, has potential to lead to a new writing programme
and will inform revisions to their seminal Annual Literacy Survey. Using diverse dissemination approaches this project will inform educational practice to enhance children and young people's writing motivation and practices.