Writing habits 'at crisis point' warns National Literacy Trust

Research from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) also shows that a third of children and young people never or rarely write in their free time, sparking calls for a focus on “writing for enjoyment”.

Indeed, the charity is warning this week that children’s writing habits are at “crisis point” with writing enjoyment at its lowest levels ever. The annual research has shown declining levels of writing enjoyment in pupils' personal lives since 2010 – and particularly since 2017 – and this year's figures are the lowest yet.

The study states: "The worrying series of lows recorded since 2017 ... and the sharp decline in writing attainment that continues to be recorded post-pandemic by statutory assessment data, suggest that we must prepare to live with the long-term consequences of this evolving crisis. Extraordinary action must now be taken."