Parent guide · Sprouts, ages 7–10
How can my child write a picture composition in class 1 to 4?
Picture composition means looking at a picture and writing a few sentences about it. Children do it well in three steps: look carefully and name what they see, say sentences out loud about who, where and what is happening, then write 5 to 8 sentences starting with the big picture and moving to the details, ending with a feeling or opinion. Talking before writing makes the writing much easier.
Key takeaways
- Look first: who, where, what, how many, what colours.
- Say the sentences aloud before writing.
- Start with the big picture: “This is a picture of a park.”
- Add details and actions in the present continuous: “A boy is flying a kite.”
- End with a feeling: “Everyone looks happy.”
What is picture composition?
In picture composition (or picture description), children are shown a picture and write sentences about it. It appears in English classes and exams from class 1 to class 4 and helps children build vocabulary, sentence structure and the habit of organising ideas.
What are the steps?
- Look: spend a minute naming everything you can see.
- Ask the 5 questions: Who is in the picture? Where is it? What are they doing? When might it be (morning, rainy day)? How do they feel?
- Say it: tell the sentences out loud to a parent first.
- Write: 5 to 8 sentences, big picture first, details next, feeling last.
- Check: capital letters, full stops and spellings.
Planning before writing, and checking afterwards, is a key recommendation of the Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance on early writing.1
What does a sample picture composition look like?
(A picture of children in a park)
This is a picture of a park on a sunny day. There are tall green trees and colourful flowers. Two boys are playing football on the grass. A girl is sitting on a swing, and her mother is pushing her. An old man is reading a newspaper on a bench. A dog is running after a ball. Everyone looks happy and is enjoying the fresh air.
Which words and sentence starters help?
- Opening: This is a picture of… / In this picture, I can see…
- Place words: on the left, on the right, in the middle, near, under, next to the tree
- Actions (present continuous): is playing, are eating, is flying, is sitting
- Describing words: sunny, crowded, colourful, tall, busy, peaceful
- Ending: Everyone looks… / It is a lovely day to…
How can we practise at home?
Use photos from your phone, pictures in storybooks or a street scene from the window. Play “I can see” in turns: each person adds one sentence. Then let your child write three sentences, and add one more each week.
How do Little Lingos classes help?
In Sprouts, our stage for ages 7 to 10, children learn describing words and question words, tell stories in order, and write short pieces with paragraphs and punctuation. Children say their ideas out loud before writing, which is exactly what picture composition needs. Younger children describe picture cards in Seeds.
Keep reading: storytelling tips, dialogue writing and formal letters and emails. To practise this with a trainer, see our creative writing classes.
Questions parents ask
Questions parents ask
How many sentences should a picture composition have?
Usually 5 to 8 sentences for class 1 to 4, but follow the number your child’s teacher asks for.
Which tense should my child use in picture composition?
Mostly the present continuous for actions (“A boy is playing”) and the simple present for description (“The sky is blue”).
How can my child write more than “I can see a tree”?
Add a describing word, a place and an action: “A tall mango tree stands near the gate, and a bird is sitting on it.”
Should my child give the picture a title?
If the teacher asks for one, a short title like “A Day at the Park” works well. Otherwise, the first sentence can say what the picture shows.
My child knows the words but can’t write sentences. What helps?
Practise saying full sentences aloud first, then write them. Talking before writing helps children organise ideas.
Sources
- Education Endowment Foundation (2020). Improving Literacy in Key Stage 1, Recommendation 5: “Teach pupils to use strategies for planning and monitoring their writing.” educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk.
Sources checked 3 November 2026. This guide is general information for parents, not medical, psychological or speech-therapy advice.
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