SACRED HEART CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL & NURSERY

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC
PRIMARY SCHOOL & NURSERY

         Handwriting Policy

                 MISSION STATEMENT

                  This is our school
                   Together we worship
                    Together we learn
                   Together we belong

With the love of God, our dreams and ambitions come true.

                                    Reviewed and Amended: September 2019
                     To Be Reviewed: September 2021 (unless required sooner)

At Sacred Heart we believe that handwriting contributes to an individual's confidence, sense
of achievement and pride in their own ability to produce the highest standards of
presentation. It is therefore essential in realising the school's mission that every child works
to their potential, that they are given maximum opportunity to develop accurate techniques
and to communicate in a legible style.

Purpose

Cursive handwriting is a life long skill, where children begin with the initial writing
experiences to gain hand control until they progress to demonstrate their own individuality
in a fluent style.

We acknowledge links between handwriting and spelling and encourage all children to
improve their spelling strategies by joining letters. We further consider development of
cursive handwriting to be an aid for completing an extended piece of writing where a
comfortable style is required.

All members of staff are responsible for recognising their contribution to helping children
develop a fluent style, especially in setting examples. Directed handwriting tasks should be
short, focused assignments, with opportunities for practice given through a cross-curricular
approach. All handwritten records should be considered opportunities to present cursive
handwriting in our adopted style. In particular, parents are requested to support their child's
development by endorsing the school's policy through activities at home.

Guidelines

   Examples of clear, carefully presented handwriting should be readily available, with access to a
    computer generated font to present a cursive style. 'CCW Cursive Writing2' has been purchased
    for this purpose.
   Sacred Heart promotes a multisensory approach, beginning with mark making with a variety of
    materials, before attempting to control a pencil.
   Children need to use a writing implement that suits them. Initial tools for handwriting may be:
    triangular pencil, progressing to conventional pencil; and when a child has developed a
    consistent style they will be given the opportunity to use an ink (fiber-tip pens to be used).
   Pen licenses are not to be used in school – children should be encouraged to use pen from Year
    3 upwards (at the teacher’s discretion) but not if this detracts from their handwriting.
   A tripod grip is encouraged from the outset.
   As most letters begin on the line, children need to be given lined paper or guidelines to put
    under the sheet to give them the starting position where lines are not pre-printed.
   For letters which do not finish on the line, the join should flow neatly out at an appropriate point
    and into the next letter where appropriate.
   Opportunities for repetition and overlearning should be given frequently, and errors dealt with
    sensitively, whilst ensuring progress.
   Attention should be drawn to successful letter formation, accurate joins, appropriate spacing
    and consistent size, through the school's rewards systems.

   Children should be shown appropriate posture, with both feet on the floor, the back straight and
    the paper angled to the left for a right hander and to the right for a left hander.

Teachers are aware of posture and comfort for both left and right handed children, so that they have
freedom of movement. The school's inclusive ethos is exercised by the recognition of the individual
needs of for example, children with physical disability.

Handwriting Exercise Books
 Reception – the children will practise regularly on a variety of materials appropriate to their needs
   and learning opportunities
 KS1 and KS2 – the children will be provided with a separate book for their handwriting practice.

Regularity of Lessons
 Reception – to practise manipulative skills each day (including fine and gross motor skills) in line
   with good Early Years practise.
 All classes will have 3 or more handwriting sessions per week.
 Additionally the school handwriting style will be expected to impact on and be visible within all
   children’s written work across the curriculum.

Handwriting Guidance for Foundation Stage and Key Stage One

   In Foundation Stage and Key Stage One children will have access to triangular pencils.
   In Foundation Stage children will be taught how to hold a pencil and how to form basic letter
    shapes.
   From Year one onwards the children will be taught the correct letter formation using the ‘Joinit
    Cursive Writing Font 2’ handwriting scheme.
   In Year One the correct letter formation will be reinforced with ascenders and descenders and
    children will move on to writing on lined paper.
   Children are to be encouraged to use full cursive script in Year Two where appropriate.
   For agreed letter formation there are also exemplars in all classrooms.
   Formal handwriting practice is to be undertaken every day in Key Stage 1, including though
    phonics sessions.

Handwriting Guidance for Key Stage Two

The target for children in Key Stage Two is to produce a fluent, consistently formed style of
fully cursive handwriting with equal spacing between the letters and words.

   Children will have three or more lessons weekly.
   Children begin fully cursive handwriting in Year 3 by starting to join their letters.
   Children in Year Three will write with pencils, although pens can be used at the teacher’s
    discretion. Children in Year Four will write with a pencil until the class teacher assesses that they
    are joining competently and consistently.
   Children in Years Five and Six will be encouraged to use a pen when writing unless this detracts
    from their handwriting, in which case a pencil will be used.

   Children will be taught the correct letter formation using the ‘Joinit Cursive Writing Font 2’
    handwriting scheme.
   Pencils will be used in numeracy or for drawing and completion of diagrams.

Monitoring and Evaluation

This will be undertaken by the class teacher and will also be assessed as part of each term’s
literacy writing assessments. Throughout all key stages, teachers will correct any errors with
letter formation.

Materials

Pencils are provided by the school, these should be sharpened regularly to ensure neat
presentation. In Key Stage Two handwriting pens will be available or may be provided from
home. We do not allow the use of roller balls, biro or gel pens.

Special Educational Needs
Pupils with a defined record of support are supported in their handwriting and presentation
through child centred plans, monitored by the class teacher and SENDco. Thicker, triangular
pencils, pencil grips, specialist pencils and wider lines will be used by children experiencing
problems writing alongside other activities to develop their fine motor skills.
It may be more appropriate for pupils with physical disabilities to spend their handwriting
time in learning Keyboard skills as the physical task of writing may be too onerous.
For some pupils a programme designed to support their fine motor skills will be beneficial
and where suitable implemented.

Rewards
The staff are committed to offering incentives for the improvement of handwriting and
presentation. Rewards, such as Class Dojos, will be given for good presentation.

Display
All work on display should be the children’s best work, with any errors corrected before their
final draft. However, on the working walls within class, evidence of ‘corrected’ work can be
displayed. Children’s work should be celebrated! There should be examples of the school
handwriting style evident in displays in classrooms and in corridors, either handwritten or
word processed using the ‘Joinit Cursive Writing Font 2’ option in Microsoft Word.

Resources

CD 'CCW Cursive Writing2’
Tracing paper
Lined exercise books
Selection of pens

Selection of pencils
Pencil grips
Specific handwriting books with additional guidelines

Conclusion

Ability to write comfortably and at length in a fluent and legible style can only contribute to a
child's esteem, and will therefore realise the school's mission for each individual to grow to
be ‘confident and independent citizens’.

                                                    Reviewed and Amended: September 2019
                                             Review: September 2021 (unless required sooner)
                                                                  James Smith (English Lead)

Appendix

The alphabet adopted at Sacred Heart is:

All letters are formed in the cursive style, and include entry strokes as well as joins after each
letter.