Writing, Visual Literacy and the Power of Looking

Starting with pictures

Our recent network meeting focused on the power of visual literacy in primary schools and writing as a creative act, opened by award‑winning New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator Ed Vere. He shared insights into his creative process, the message and meaning behind his picture books and the importance of using your voice to express who you are.

Ed explored how pictures can act as powerful starting points for writing, reminding us that writing is, at its heart, a creative act. For some children, drawing can be an important part of that process. An exciting way to begin that motivates them to write. It isn’t about how polished a picture looks, but about the child’s unique voice and what they are trying to say.

He also reflected on the pressures children can feel around writing, sharing a memorable quote from a pupil: “I don’t like writing when I get pressured with time. I like to think about the way my sentences should be.” A perspective that will resonate with many of us working to create space for thoughtful, meaningful writing in our classrooms.

• To explore Ed’s books and the Power of Pictures scheme, which champions visual literacy in primary schools, visit Ed Vere’s website.
• Premium and Essential members can catch up on the full network meeting, including Ed’s discussion and readings from his meaning‑rich picture books.

DfE Writing Framework updates

Claire Halstead presented on Section 6 of the DfE Writing Framework, focusing on writing across the curriculum. Her talk shared a range of practical insights, including these Ofsted ‘dos and don’ts’:

What Ofsted do not want

• Learning new content and writing together leading to cognitive overload, especially in KS1 and lower KS2
• Excessive writing
• No purpose
• Low-quality outcomes

What Ofsted do want

• Fewer, better pieces
• Depth over coverage
• Purposeful, knowledge-based writing

Dora Allen, School Literacy Network Manager, also shared insights from Section 1 of the DfE Writing Framework, exploring why writing matters, why it is challenging and the importance of giving pupils time to craft their writing.

SLN resource updates

Dora highlighted a range of new SLN resources designed to support teaching across the school, including:

• Author Focus on Ed Vere
• Grammar, punctuation and sentence progressions
• Whole-school handwriting scheme

The Superpower of Looking

Tina Corri from Art UK shared an overview of The Superpower of Looking. Art UK is an education charity that makes art freely accessible for enjoyment, learning and research, with a digital platform showcasing over a million artworks from more than 3,500 UK public collections. It is a shared resource, open to all.

The Superpower of Looking focuses on developing children’s visual literacy, using artworks and images as a starting point. As Tina explained, the programme responds to the need to help children navigate an increasingly complex visual culture. They are surrounded by images every day, but don’t always have the skills to question or interpret what they see, particularly when it comes to misinformation and disinformation.

The programme includes adaptable lesson plans, films and teacher notes, supporting the art and design curriculum while opening up opportunities for cross-curricular learning. It is currently used by around 10% of state primary schools and explores a range of themes, including identity, history and still life.

• For free resources and CPD, visit Art UK: The Superpower of Looking