Newspaper reports

What is a newspaper report?

Newspaper reports are non-fiction texts that develop children's journalistic writing skills. At KS2, children learn to write engaging news articles using specific grammar features like past tense, reported speech and direct speech with correct punctuation.

How to write a newspaper report at KS2

A compelling newspaper report starts with an attention-grabbing headline and an interesting opening sentence. Children need to learn how to:

• Use past tense consistently
• Include direct and reported speech
• Apply correct speech punctuation
• Write objectively while recognising bias
• Structure information in order of importance

How to format a newspaper report at KS2

A well-structured newspaper report includes these key elements:

• Clear, impactful headline
• Engaging introduction with the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why)
• Main body with detailed information
• Quotes from witnesses or experts
• Supporting images with captions

Types of newspaper reports

Children should explore both broadsheet and tabloid writing styles to understand different approaches to news reporting. Key types include:

• Breaking news stories
• Feature articles
• Sports reports
• Entertainment news
• Local interest stories

Newspaper report teaching resources

This comprehensive collection of newspaper writing resources has been carefully curated to support your teaching of journalistic writing at key stage 1 and key stage 2. Whether you're introducing newspaper reports for the first time or developing more advanced writing skills, you'll find everything you need to engage your class. The downloadable templates and examples are perfect for both guided writing sessions and independent work.

For further support with non-fiction writing, do explore our detailed resource packs for lower KS2 and upper KS2. These contain additional WAGOLL texts, lesson plans and writing frames to help children develop their journalistic writing skills whilst meeting curriculum objectives.