At Moat House Primary School, we believe in the importance of fostering strong handwriting skills as they build the foundations for success in academics and beyond. Handwriting is an essential skill that combines artistry and communication, allowing children to express their thoughts, ideas and emotions effectively through the written word. Because of this, we understand that handwriting is a developmental process which ranges from readiness for handwriting in EYFS to a cursive handwriting style. We use the best practice from the Letter-join scheme in line with our handwriting policy. All classes have access to on-line handwriting resources and Lesson Planners as the basis of our handwriting policy as it covers all the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Objectives

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.

Aims:

• 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.

Expectations

All teaching staff are encouraged to model the printed or cursive style of handwriting chosen for each year group in our school in all their handwriting, whether on whiteboards, displays or in pupils’ books.

Consistency throughout the school

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.

Handwriting frequency

Handwriting is a cross-curricular task and will be taken into consideration during all lessons. Formal teaching of handwriting will be carried out regularly and systematically to ensure Key Stage targets are met.

Pens and pencils

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

Handwriting Policy and Letter Formation

Handwriting at Home

Pupils are encouraged to practise their handwriting at home by using the learning packs below and the pupil log-in on letter-join.