Children's achievements in writing lag behind their achievements in reading, speaking and listening. National tests are beginning to expose this gap and inevitably, it is raising concerns. The issue is not without controversy but regardless of the politics of the situation, national progress in children's writing is both needed and possible.This new book from Eve Bearne makes a valuable contribution towards helping teachers close this gap. Uniquely, it follows the structure of the National Literacy Strategy, whilst examining key areas such as bridging KS2 and KS3 writing, and writing skills beyond the Literacy Hour. Such a structure makes the book incredibly practical and easy to use, providing essential information for both practitioners and academics.