Handwriting

Daily handwriting lessons, using Letter-Join, support children in developing a secure handwriting style that enables them to communicate their ideas effectively and so develop a sense of pride in the presentation of their writing.

At Hollyfast, we are very proud of our pupil’s handwriting and take particular care in our handwriting style. We use Letter-join’s on-line handwriting resource and Lesson Planners as the basis of our handwriting policy as it covers all the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Handwriting is a basic skill that influences the quality of work throughout the curriculum. By the end of Key Stage 2 all pupils should have the ability to produce fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy joined-up handwriting, and to understand the different forms of handwriting used for different purposes.  Our intention is to make handwriting an automatic process that does not interfere with creative and mental thinking and our aims are:

• To develop a neat, legible, speedy handwriting style using continuous cursive letters, which leads to producing letters and words automatically in independent writing.
• To establish and maintain high expectations for the presentation of written work.
• For pupils to understand, by the end of Year 6, the importance of neat presentation and the need for different letterforms (cursive, printed or capital letters) to help communicate meaning clearly.

Pens and pencils

Children will start handwriting using a soft pencil. When fine motor skills have been established a handwriting pen can be used.

Inclusion

For children who experience handwriting difficulties due to fine motor development, including those who are left-handed and those with special educational needs, the appropriate additional support will be put into place. Letter-join’s 'Lesson Planners' all include differentiation activities for extra practice/challenge.

From EYFS to Year 6
For our youngest pupils we teach short handwriting lessons on a daily basis, which will include the following:

• enhancing gross motor skills such as air-writing, pattern-making and physical activities
• exercises to develop fine motor skills such as mark-making on paper, whiteboards, sensory trays, iPads, tablets, etc.
• becoming familiar with letter shapes, their sounds, formation and vocabulary
• correct sitting position and pencil grip for handwriting

In Early Years, letter formation starts with fine and gross motor skills warm-up exercises, correct sitting position and tripod pencil grip.

It is divided into three sections covering:

• pre-writing patterns

• easy letters and words

• harder letters and words 

At the end of this module,  children should be able to recognise and form all the printed, lowercase letters of the alphabet.

From Year 1 onwards, the children continue to focus on their letter formation. Teaching progresses to sessions that support the following:

• continuing with gross and fine motor skills exercises
• strengthening handwriting, learning and practice
• numerals, capitals and printed letters; where and when to use, learning and practice

When ready,  children are introduced to cursive letters and how to join them. They will have regular practice in letter formation and joining their handwriting. Over time, children should now be developing the fluency and speed of their writing.