Does your child have a creative imagination and enjoys writing stories?

There is a BBC words competition running for children to participate in.

Please note this competition is to be entered at home and no entries are to be sent into school. Please see below information on how to enter at home.

 What is the BBC 500 words Competition?

The BBC 500 Words competition is

a UK-wide story writing contest for children aged 5-11, with two age categories: 5-7 and 8-11

. To enter, children write a short story (no more than 500 words) that they would love to read, focusing on creativity over spelling, punctuation, or grammar. An adult must then submit the typed story on the BBC Teach website before the closing date, which is November 7, 2025. The competition encourages literacy and creativity, with winners receiving books, and their schools receiving 500 books for their library, according to BBC Teach. 

How to Enter

1. Write the Story:Your child should write an original story that they find exciting, limiting it to 500 words or less. 
2. Focus on Creativity:Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar, as these are not marked. 
3. Adult Submission:An adult (parent, guardian, teacher, etc.) must submit the story by typing it and uploading it through the BBC's official 500 Words website. 

Key Details

• Age Categories:5-7 year-olds and 8-11 year-olds. 
• Submission Window:Entries are open from September 23 to November 7, 2025. 
• Focus:Encourages literacy and creativity by removing the pressure of perfect punctuation and grammar. 
• Prizes:Winners receive books, and the gold winners' schools are given 500 books for their library. 
• Grand Final:The top stories are celebrated at a grand final event, often hosted by a celebrity. 

Tips for Parents

• Spark Imagination:Use homemade puppets or other activities to help your child visualize and act out their story ideas. 
• Encourage Storytelling:Read stories together and discuss what makes a story engaging. 
• Use Resources:Websites like Twinkl offer helpful resources, such as assembly materials and activity packs, to inspire your child. 
• Get Inspired:The BBC website features advice from celebrity judges on what makes a brilliant 500 Words story.