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. .