Why do we need to focus on handwriting as part of the writing curriculum?
Research has shown that:
- pupils who do not learn to read and write fluently and confidently are, in every sense, disadvantaged.
- pupils should develop the stamina and skills to write at length, with accurate spelling and punctuation.
- writing also depends on fluent, legible and, eventually, speedy handwriting.
Our Aims
- To enable children to write in a consistent, well presented and legible format.
- To have a consistent approach across Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and 2 when teaching handwriting.
- To ensure that from the Summer Term of Year 1 children are using cursive writing.
- To make sure all children know the difference between lower and upper case letters.
- To ensure the skills taught at Key Stage 1 continue to develop at Key Stage 2.
- To adopt a consistent approach towards handwriting by all adults when writing in children’s books, on the whiteboard or on displays / resources.
English National Curriculum expectations
- Children should write in a cursive style at a speed that matches their thinking by Y3 /4
- This allows for practice in KS1 and then fluency in KS2.
Why cursive?
- One movement - children’s hands develop a ‘physical memory’
- Letters and words flow from left to right so less likely to reverse letters
- Clearer capital and lower case letters
- Flow of writing improves speed and spelling
- Much more helpful to learn a single system right from the start
- It is progressive
- It prevents pupils having to ‘unlearn’ what they have already been taught
   
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