handwriting

Our Approach to Handwriting

We ensure that children build up their handwriting skills every day with lots of practise writing. We make the physical process of writing – handwriting – enjoyable from the start, so children see themselves as ‘writers’.

We use mnemonics – memory pictures – to help children visualise the letter or join before they write it down. Children need to practise handwriting under the guidance of a teacher so they do not develop habits that will be difficult to undo later so we make sure that handwriting is always a guided activity.

We link handwriting to our Read Write Inc. Phonics in KS1 and there are three handwriting stages:

Stage 1

These lessons are taught while children read the Red, Green, Purple, Pink, and Orange Storybooks. 

Stage 1a: Children practise correct letter formation.

Stage 1b: Children learn where to place the letters on the writing line.

Stage 2

These lessons are taught while children read the Yellow, Blue and Grey Storybooks. At this stage, children learn a mature style of writing that will lead to joined-up writing.

Stage 3

These lessons are also taught while children read the Yellow, Blue and Grey Storybooks. At this stage, children learn the two basic joins: the arm join (diagonal) and the washing line join (horizontal) and the two variables for each join.

There are also memorable phrases that support the children to develop correct letter formation. It help you to support your child's letter formation by using the same phrases at home as well as at school.

Pupils are expected to have mastered joined-up handwriting by the end of the RWI program. For those who still struggle with correct letter formation or or have not participated in the RWI program (for example joining from another school), then further intervention and support is provided.