Handwriting

Being able to handwrite allows children to express themselves in order to give them confidence and pride in their work. We aim to provide pupils with the required skills to develop a legible style to communicate their meaning effectively through written methods.

At Dundale Primary School and Nursery, all children are introduced to handwriting from the start. We believe this raises standards in handwriting throughout the whole school, developing confidence, accuracy and fluency and improved presentation.

We aim to:

• provide frequent and discrete sessions to develop handwriting styles to fit a set purpose;
• provide a variety of direct teaching experiences;
• encourage an enthusiastic and positive attitude to handwriting;
• ensure that pupils are provided with an environment in which teachers model good handwriting;
• provide a range of stimulating resources and a variety of print; including the ‘Penpals Handwriting Scheme.’
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Handwriting Style

A fluent and flexible approach creating legible handwriting which includes careful progression form Nursery through to Year 6.

The development of handwriting has a sequence of distinctive stages.

• Foundation stage (3-5 years) - Physical preparation for handwriting includes gross and fine motor skills leading to  mark making, patterns and letter formation.
• Year 1 – Securing correct letter formation
• Year 2 – Beginning to join letters with a focus on size and spacing
• Years 3 and 4 – Securing joins together with a focus on break letters, legibility, consistency and quality.
• Years 5 and 6 – Practising speed, fluency and develop a personalised style for different purposes.

Handwriting Heroes

Through our weekly ‘Handwriting Hero’ award we want to embed a sense of pride in the children and celebrate their successes in handwriting. A certificate is awarded and a special mention is given each week in our whole school ‘Celebration Assembly’ to children from each class.

Please see our Handwriting Policy for more guidance.