Online Writing Classes for Children and Young Adults
THE WRITING CLUB
Would your child’s writing benefit from some individual, expert attention?
Any of this sound familiar?
You’re worried about your child's reluctance to write
You'd like your child to exceed expectations at school
Your child writes as they speak to their friends - All slang and no precision
Your child's handwriting needs attention and their sentences are confused
Wave goodbye to all of that
Give us just 20 minutes per week of your child’s time. And we will transform their writing.
The Writing Clubs are for children and young adults. You will see a huge uplift in confidence and technique from the very beginning.
A short, carefully designed task. Individual and considered teacher attention. Personal marking every week (and no need for homework or parent support)…
Content uplift
Confidence boost
Handwriting formation
Punctuation
Spelling consistency
Take the Next Step
Mini
Age 7-8
£48 per month
This club will establish good habits, writing confidence, skills and techniques.
Lively task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
Standard
Age 9-11
£48 per month
This club will build, lift and extend your child’s writing skills and techniques.
Concise weekly task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
Higher
Age 12-16
£48 per month
This club challenges confident young writers to create high-scoring content.
Extended weekly task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
On the Fence? Let us help…
TRY A TASTER OF OUR ONLINE WRITING CLASS
A behind-the-scenes look at our Writing Clubs…
THE MINI CLUB
We teach good habits, writing confidence, skills and techniques to 7 and 8 year olds.
THE STANDARD CLUB
We build, lift and extend the writing skills and techniques of 9, 10 and 11 year olds.
THE HIGHER CLUB
We challenge confident writers to create high-scoring pieces for different purposes.
WHEN ARE THE CLUBS?
EACH LESSON IS TAUGHT LIVE ON ZOOM THREE TIMES PER WEEK
Your child is welcome to drop in to any one of them, you don’t need to confirm which one.
All times in BST
MINIS
5.30-5.45pm Tuesdays
5.30-5.45pm Wednesdays
STANDARD
4.30-4.50pm Tuesdays
6.00-6.20pm Tuesdays
6.00-6.20pm Wednesdays
HIGHER
5.00-5.20pm Tuesdays
6.30-6.50pm Wednesdays
HELP! I CAN’T DO ANY OF THE SESSIONS…
If your child is unable to make it to a live session each week, it really doesn’t matter.
Just log in and they can complete the video lesson at a time that suits you both.
Feedback is personal and the marking relationship is the key to progression.
YOU ARE NOT TIED IN…
There is no notice period, contract or obligation.
You can stop your payment immediately.
You shared your writing worries…
We asked parents to share their feelings about their children’s writing. Here’s what they told us:
- He is an avid reader, it just doesn’t correlate onto paper sometimes.
- We are desperately trying to lift our daughter’s English skills.
- He hates writing and doesn’t know how to get started.
- I suppose I would like her to learn how to produce a piece of writing that can tick all the boxes.
- My concern is his handwriting. He simply won’t accept that it is really messy – it is almost like it is too late.
- My son’s imagination and use of vocabulary is very good, but his grammar and spelling let him down.
- The biggest issue with writing we have found is getting her to do what’s been asked for and not procrastinate about the task.
- I would say she needs help being more descriptive and imaginative in her writing.
- His writing style is very chatty and filled with slang; he writes as if he were telling a story to his mates and unfortunately grammar and correct English takes a back seat. For example, he will finish a sentence with phrases like ‘and all’ and ‘the lot’.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE’VE INCLUDED:
A tightly constructed task
Each lesson is like a mini writing workshop. It starts with a short, engaging introduction followed by a carefully constructed task. Our content and expectations are closely matched to the government (and GCSE) planning frameworks.
Live teaching
Your child can ask questions, clarify their understanding and share their ideas with other young writers like them. There is a video lesson set up each week for those who can’t make it to the live session.
Hand-holding resources
This process is called ‘scaffolding’. Precise vocabulary and structure is provided every week to banish students’ fear of the blank page.
Personal, individual feedback
Every week their teacher shares a considered and positive marking video, with manageable targets set for the following task. Parent meetings are arranged to accelerate progression.
Access to our library
All our writing resources and videos of previous how-to lessons are available to you at the click of a mouse.
Problem-solving
Just ask a question when you upload your child’s work, and their teacher will answer it personally in the video feedback.
And how do parents rate the personal video marking and feedback?
“By the way, we LOVE your video feedbacks…SO useful.”
Thanks
Writing Club has done wonders for her handwriting and confidence.
She continues to write stories for pleasure at home and they are a joy
to read and I’m in no doubt that the club tuition has given her that
confidence.
I will recommend Griffin wholeheartedly to other parents looking to
help their child’s writing.
Thank you very much for this. Love the video approach and Joseph was really chuffed with it. I know that he is more interested in a video message than a written comment (kids and technology!!)
The improvement in his handwriting in only 2 months has been incredible and he is feeling much more confident about it so thank you for everything!
I am so impressed with the writing club! Very happy we joined and will be recommending it to others.
YOU ARE NOT TIED IN…
There is no notice period, contract or obligation.
You can stop your payment immediately.
Why do I have such a record of dramatically improving children’s writing?
Well it’s all down to my passion for the job and my particular background
20 years + teaching experience. I've developed strategies To fix every single writing issue I've come across.
My four-year degree in education from Cambridge University (with Hons).
The seasons I spent marking Year 6 English SATs papers for the Edexel Exam Board.
Clare, our higher club marker, is an english gcse and A level expert. we've worked together closely to clarify the planning framework and lesson content at the higher level.
I’ve gone out of my way to learn from inspirational speakers (Poet Laureate Simon Armitage being the most recent).
The 10 years I’ve spent running Griffin Teaching. In addition to being responsible for 1000+ children’s Kent Test 11+ passes, my students have gained places at super-selectives and top public and private schools across London and the South East.
I’m naturally positive and always see the best in children and their work.
On the Fence? Let us help…
QUESTIONS?
How does it work?
• A new 5-minute lesson is published every week (5 minute video presentation with supporting resources linked below).
• This same task will be taught live three times on Zoom in the week and your child can attend either or both of these sessions.
• In the live session, or independently, our students complete a short writing task. This takes 15 minutes in the Mini Club and 20 minutes in the Standard and the Higher-Level Clubs.
• Snap a scan or photo of their work with your phone and attach it to the upload button on the lesson page. If you have a private question you would like us to answer in person, there is a space for this on the form.
• Friday is feedback day. Your child’s teacher will open any work you have uploaded and create a personal video, answering any questions there too. There is no obligation to keep up with every task. Any work uploaded will be given our full consideration.
When are the live sessions?
Each club has three live-taught Zoom lessons per week. They are lively and engaging sessions:
Minis: 4.30-4.45pm Mondays, 5.30-5.45pm Tuesdays and 5.30-5.45pm Wednesdays
Standard: 4.30-4.50pm Tuesdays, 6.00-6.20pm Tuesdays, 6.00-6.20pm Wednesdays
Highers: 7.30-7.50am and 5.00-5.20pm Tuesdays, 6.30-6.50pm Wednesdays
All times in BST
Your child is welcome to drop in to any of the sessions for their club, you don’t need to confirm which one.
Weekly content is also available on-demand as a 5-minute video introduction with supporting resources in the “My Account” area of the website. Just log in and your child can complete the lesson at a time that suits you both. Feedback is personal and the marking relationship is key to progression.
what do i need to provide?
• A good rollerball pen in black or blue.
• Lined paper—ideally in an exercise book. Or, if you prefer, I attach handwriting paper as a download in the lesson pages.
• Access to a laptop or PC to watch the video/attend the live lesson.
What makes the writing clubs so special?
Easy. It’s the mix of these three strengths:
• We care so much about our pupils (and their worried parents).
• Progression is at the heart of all our teaching. It’s exciting to enable children and to watch their confidence soar.
• Years of experience and attention to the detail of children’s writing is behind every single task and word of encouragement.
Which writing club should my child join?
The age groups listed below are a guideline. Children work at such different levels. The sample videos above may help you choose. Otherwise, please contact me directly to discuss.
THE MINI WRITING CLUB is for younger writers (age 7-8).
THE WRITING CLUB is for the upper primary years (age 9-11
THE HIGHER-LEVEL WRITING CLUB extends more confident writers (age 12-16).
All three clubs follow a manageable weekly model (15 – 20 minutes total) where the focus is on technical detail. Feedback is personal and directly addressed to your child. One task is set weekly, but if you can’t make it that week, the content and personal marking is all set up and can be picked up again at any time.
Any child is welcome to join at the higher level if interested in more challenging content and a slightly longer task. The club is most suitable for children approaching an exam where they will be asked to produce a high-scoring writing sample, or those who simply wish to excel in academic writing to achieve an ‘exceeding’ assessment in school.
What do we achieve?
It’s the presentation that you will notice first. Their letter formation and choice of vocabulary improves. Sentences employ correct English grammar, are well-formed and there is a new formality about their work.
After each online class—every single week—your child will take a step forward. Sometimes a small step and sometimes a giant leap…
What does it cost?
All 3 clubs are £48 per month (including VAT).
Take the Next Step
Mini
Age 7-8
£48 per month
This club will establish good habits, writing confidence, skills and techniques.
Lively task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
Standard
Age 9-11
£48 per month
This club will build, lift and extend your child’s writing skills and techniques.
Concise weekly task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
Higher
Age 12-16
£48 per month
This club challenges confident writers to create high-scoring content.
Extended weekly task
Detailed, personal marking and feedback
Personal response to any questions
STILL NOT SURE? Let us help…
no notice period or deposit
Of course, I want you to love this club and to enthuse about your child’s fantastic writing progression.
If you don’t feel that the club is working for you, please contact me and I will go the extra mile to address any concerns you might have directly, and improve your child’s experience.
But no problem if it isn’t for you. You can stop your payment immediately. There is no notice period, contract or obligation (and we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously too).
Hayley Hobbs
