We are very proud of our pupils’ handwriting and take particular care with our handwriting style. 
In line with the Writing Framework 2025, handwriting is taught explicitly and regularly across the school. We use Letter-join’s whole school handwriting scheme as the basis of our handwriting policy, which enables us to meet National Curriculum requirements through a structured teaching programme. 

Objective

Handwriting is a core skill which influences the quality of work throughout the curriculum. By the end of Key Stage 2 pupils should have the ability to produce fluent, legible and speedy joined handwriting, and to understand that different styles of handwriting are used for different purposes.

Our intention is to make handwriting an automatic process that does not interfere with creative and mental thinking.

Aims

• Develop neat, legible and speedy handwriting where letters and words are automatically produced in independent writing.
• Establish and maintain high expectations for the presentation of written work.
• Understand, by the end of Year 6, the importance of neat presentation and the need for different handwriting styles (joined, printed or capital letters) to help communicate meaning clearly.

Expectations

All teaching staff are encouraged to model the 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 teaching and learning of handwriting across all school years and be encouraged to take pride in their work. We want to help pupils enjoy learning and developing their handwriting, so they feel 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 throughout learning, as emphasised in the 2025 Writing Framework.

Pens and pencils

Pupils who struggle with using the correct pencil grip or with their fine motor skills, will use a STABILO EASYgraph ergonomic pencil in the appropriate width. We have pencils specifically for right and left handed pupils. When their fine motor skills and correct pencil grip are established, pupils may progress to using a handwriting pen or for more competent pupils, a ballpoint pen.

Inclusion

For children who experience handwriting difficulties due to fine motor development, including those who are left-handed and/or with special educational needs, appropriate additional support will be put in place. Letter-join’s Lesson Planners include differentiation activities for extra practice/challenge and their Handwriting Recovery Programme is used as an intervention for our key stage 2 pupils to give structured support if they find handwriting challenging.