Text maps are used from Nursery through to Y6.

The purpose of the map is to aid visual memory – so the children can “see” the plot. It is also useful because the process of turning the words into graphic representations aids memory, reinforcing the principles of dual coding. It means that the learning of a model text orally is simpler because they hear it, say it, see it, move to it and perform it. 

In EYFS, the children begin to learn the  actions  to stories that they listen to. They are able to follow a text map and will quite often begin to attempt their own text maps.