We aim for our pupils to develop a neat, legible, speedy handwriting style using continuous cursive letters that lead to producing letters and words automatically in independent writing. Children in Reception are expected to know the letter name, sound and patter before progressing into KS1. Whilst in KS1, teachers will develop the size of letters before moving onto leading lines. In Year 2, children will begin to use horizontal and vertical strokes to join accurately.
At Madron Daniel, we use Letter-join’s online handwriting resource and progression scheme as the basis for teaching handwriting, as it covers all the requirements of the National Curriculum and builds fluency and stamina for writing. The children can access Letter-join both in school and at home which reinforces letter and number formations taught at each phase and the phonics and the statutory spellings and grammar for all year groups.
In Key Stage 1, we teach discreet handwriting lessons each week, which build on children’s starting points to develop fully cursive joined up writing.
Lessons will include;
• continuing with gross and fine motor skills exercises
• learning cursive through letter families
• revisiting numerals, capitals and printed letters
• knowing high frequency words
• developing diagonal and horizontal joins which will support the spelling of Year 1 and 2 Statutory spellings and tricky words.
• dictation exercises
• strengthening cursive handwriting, learning and practice
• KS1 SATs Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar exercises
Handwriting is a basic skill that influences the quality and quantity of written work throughout the curriculum. By the end of Key Stage 2 all pupils should have the ability to produce fluent, legible, 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.
Aims:
• To build fine and gross motor skills needed to develop early letter formation in a fun and engaging way.
• To develop a neat, legible, 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.
Expectations
To ensure consistency throughout the school, all teaching staff are encouraged to model the selected the style of writing in all their handwriting, including whiteboards, displays or when giving feedback in pupils’ books, according to the year group. Wherever possible, worksheets should also be in correct Letter Join script and used minimally to encourage children’s writing.
Pupils should experience coherence and continuity in the learning and teaching of handwriting across all school years and be encouraged to take pride in the presentation of their work. Our objective is to help pupils enjoy learning and developing their handwriting with a sense of achievement and pride.
