Handwriting Policy April 11

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Kemble Primary School

Handwriting and Presentation Policy

Aims

To develop a clear, legible style of joined handwriting to communicating thoughts

and ideas in a written form.To develop a fast, fluent style of handwriting that enables the child to write at

speed and to keep apace with his/hers thinking.

To enable children to present work neatly, attractively and in an organised way.

Philosophy

At Kemble Primary School we believe that by developing a neat style of cursive

handwriting children will be able to focus more on the content of their work

rather than on the mechanics of writing. We have adopted a totally cursive

script because of the following advantages:

It is consistent letters start on the line and all letters join within aword

It is fluent the flow of a cursive script means that it is easier to write

at speed which is particularly important as children get older and need to

take notes, for example at secondary school.

It is attractive - children like the style and feel that their writing looks

grown up

It helps spelling a cursive script helps children to learn letter strings

and words as complete units and not as individual letters.

Everything joins children are less likely to print if everything joins,

children particularly like the loops!

The direct teaching of a joined handwriting style to boys is particularly

advantageous, see Yes he can, Schools where boys write well, Ofsted

July 2003.

Classroom organisation

Handwriting

During the autumn term it is expected that there will be an emphasis on the

teaching of handwriting. The progression for developing handwriting skills is

taken from the Early Learning Goals and the National Literacy Strategy (seeappendix for an example of progression). Children will have at least one twenty

minute lesson of handwriting per week. As well as being used to practise forming

and joining letters handwriting sessions will also be linked to spelling.

Handwriting books are used for practising handwriting and guidelines with

similar lines to the handwriting books are used for best copies or for writing on

plain paper.

Teachers and teaching assistants should model the schools adopted style of

writing whenever they write for children e.g. on the white board, in books.

Written April 2011

Review date April 20141


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Children will also be expected to use this cursive style of handwriting whenever

they write.

Any photocopy masters that teachers use should be done in school and should be

closely monitored by the teacher or teaching assistant to ensure that the

correct starting place and letter formation is used.

Alphabet showing upper and lower case letters should be on display in each

classroom

Presentation of work

Date

All work should be dated. A date stamp can be used in reception and is phased

out as children move on to year one. The aim is for children to write the date in

full e.g. Monday 23rd May 2003 on each piece of work in the top left hand

corner. The short date e.g. 23/5/03 may be used in maths and on draft work.

The date should be underlined with a ruler.

Title

The title or learning objective (sometimes called WALT) of a piece of work is

written in the middle of the page underneath the date. The title of the work

should be underlined with a ruler.

Use of rubbers

Children are discouraged from using rubbers in all but best work. Children

should be taught that mistakes are part of learning and are part of the drafting

process so should be encouraged! Any mistakes that are made should be crossed

through with a neat line using a ruler. Children should seek the permission of a

teacher or teaching assistant before rubbing out.

Use of pencils

When children write in pencil they or their teacher should ensure that it is

sharp. Children are responsible for looking after the pencil and should keep it in

their drawer or in a pot centrally.

Use of handwriting pensHandwriting pens are used at the discretion of the teacher throughout the

school for best work. In key stage two a handwriting pen license is awarded for

consistently neat, cursive handwriting enabling a child to use a handwriting pen

in exercise books. However, a pen license may be revoked at any time if a childs

handwriting lapses! Black or blue fountain pens may be used by year six children

at the discretion of the teacher.

SEN

Written April 2011



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Children who are struggling to develop the fine motor control needed for a neat

style of handwriting will spend a few minutes most days working on developing

this by using the Write from the start resources under the guidance of a

teaching assistant. Sloping boards will be used by left-handed children from the

start of their development as a writer if their hand position needs correcting.

Monitoring, record keeping and assessment

Handwriting will be reviewed regularly in staff meetings and will be monitored

when the literacy record books of tracker children are reviewed.

Homework

The expectation is that children produce work created at home to the same

standard expected in school which includes presentation. Children should not

use a pen to produce homework unless they have been given permission to do so

by their class teacher.

Appendices

Example of letter formation that we use in school

Example of progression in letter formation in Foundation Stage

Example of line guides for KS1 and 2

Written April 2011


Documents

Handwriting Policy April 11