Year 4 writing: Invite the caretaker to an exhibition
Give a named reader the information needed to accept an invitation.
Your writing task
Write a letter inviting your school caretaker to a class exhibition about buildings. Explain what the class has made and why you would like the caretaker to visit. Use an imaginary school.
Plan before you write
- What have the pupils made?
- When and where is the exhibition?
- Why would this visitor be welcome?
Write on paper or in your own document. Try a first draft before reading the model responses.
An opening you can try
Dear Mr Khan,
Use this opening or write your own. A useful opening gives your reader something to follow.
A small word bank
- generous
- Happy to give more time, money or kindness than is expected.
- sturdy
- Strongly built and not easily broken.
- sincere
- Honestly meant, without any pretending.
Choose a word only when its meaning fits. You do not need to use every word in the bank.
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Compare three model responses
These are three ways to develop the same task. They are teaching examples, with notes linked to the English national curriculum. They are not exam grades or a prediction of a mark.
A starting point
Dear Mr Khan,
Please come to our class exhibition on Thursday afternoon. It will be in our classroom at two o'clock. We have made models of buildings from cardboard and wood.
We would like to show you how we made them. You look after our school building, so you might notice things we could improve. Please tell our teacher if you can come.
Best wishes, Year 4
Teaching notes
Write for a reader and purpose
at two o'clock
The invitation includes a time as well as a place.
Choose useful details and words
You look after our school building
The letter explains why this particular visitor has been chosen.
Try next: Give one example of a model the visitor could see.
A more developed response
Dear Mr Khan,
We would like to invite you to our buildings exhibition this Thursday at two o'clock in the Year 4 classroom. We have made cardboard bridges, houses and a model of the school hall.
When our first bridge bent in the middle, we had to think about making it sturdy. Your work looking after the school helped us notice why buildings need care as well as a good design.
We would enjoy showing you our models and hearing what you think. If the time is inconvenient, please let our teacher know. We could arrange another short visit.
Best wishes, Year 4
Teaching notes
Organise related ideas
When our first bridge bent
The middle paragraph gives a specific reason for the invitation.
Write for a reader and purpose
We could arrange another short visit.
The ending considers the visitor's schedule and offers a useful alternative.
Try next: Check that the greeting and ending suit a polite school invitation.
A further developed response
Dear Mr Khan,
Our class would like to invite you to a buildings exhibition this Thursday at two o'clock in the Year 4 classroom. The display includes cardboard bridges, model houses and a carefully measured copy of our school hall.
Building the models has shown us that a structure needs more than an attractive roof. Our first bridge sagged because its supports were too far apart. We moved them, tested it again and finally made a sturdy crossing for a toy car.
As you look after the real school building, we would value your ideas about our designs. We could show you the changes we made and ask what you would check first.
Please let our teacher know whether you can visit. If Thursday is too busy, we would be happy to find another time. Thank you for considering our invitation.
Best wishes, Year 4
Teaching notes
Choose useful details and words
its supports were too far apart
The example shows what the pupils learnt, making their reason for inviting the caretaker convincing.
Write for a reader and purpose
ask what you would check first
The letter gives the visitor a clear role at the exhibition.
Try next: Make sure the date, time and place agree wherever they appear.
Read back and improve
- Can the visitor find the time and place?
- Does the letter explain why you are inviting this person?
- Keep the greeting, tone and ending consistent.
Where the teaching notes come from
Our notes apply the published writing guidance for Years 3 and 4 and Years 5 and 6. The prompts and model responses were written originally for Trace Learn. Reviewed 2026-10-01.
Read the Department for Education English curriculumChoose another writing task
Questions parents ask
What should I plan before I write?
What have the pupils made? When and where is the exhibition? Why would this visitor be welcome?
How can I improve my first draft?
Can the visitor find the time and place? Does the letter explain why you are inviting this person? Keep the greeting, tone and ending consistent.
Will this page mark or save my writing?
No. Write on paper or in your own document. The models and notes are teaching examples. This page does not collect your writing, save it to a profile or award a score.
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