Handwriting
In line with the primary curriculum statutory expectations, children must be taught to write with
ease, speed and legibility. It is important that the child’s handwriting becomes a skill that ultimately
requires limited use of their working memory so that creative and physical energy can be focused on
the content of writing.
In line with the primary curriculum statutory expectations, children must be taught to write with
ease, speed and legibility. It is important that the child’s handwriting becomes a skill that ultimately
requires limited use of their working memory so that creative and physical energy can be focused on
the content of writing.
Pupils will be taught to:
• Sit correctly at a table, holding a pencil comfortably and correctly using the tripod grip
• Begin to form lower-case letters in the correct direction, starting and finishing in the right place
• Form capital letters
• Form digits 0-9
• Understand which letters belong to which handwriting ‘families’ and to practice these.
• Be clear about what standard of handwriting is appropriate for a given task.
Fine & Gross Motor Practice
In line with school long term plan and curriculum overview, children are supported to make progress
from fist palmar grip to digital pronate grip to four finger grip and finally to a tripod grip. This is done
through a variety of gross and fine motor activities.
The following grips will be taught to pupils:
Fist Palmar Grip
Digital Pronate Grip
Four Finger Grip
Letter Formation
Tripod Grip
Progression of writing skills in eyfs
Pre-Cursive Handwriting Style
When teachers judge that children have a correct and confident foundation of letter formation,
children are taught to start using some of the diagonal and horizontal strokes needed to join letters,
including pre-cursive join in line with ‘LetterJoin’ scheme.
Cursive Handwriting Style
Children are taught through ‘LetterJoin’ the two correct joins in cursive handwriting and are taught
how to increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their handwriting.
Children are taught that capital letters start from the top – that is, from just below the upper writing
line. When writing a whole word which requires a capital letter at the beginning, a small space is left
after the capital letter and the next letter starts on the line.
All upper-case letters are simple print letter shapes which do not join other letters.
Additional Support
• ‘LetterJoin’ log-ins, planning and resources for all staff.
• Slanted writing slopes are available for children who need them.
• Various pen/pencil grips in school and a selection of handwriting pens with various shaped and
sized barrels. Some specific left-handed resources are available.
• Whiteboards with lines to teach lowercase, capitals and ascenders and descenders.