Researching Handwriting

TLA Visit 09/12/22

Our Subject Leaders and TLA visited each classroom across the morning investigating the implementation of Little Green’s chosen handwriting style. We use a cursive handwriting style following on from the script taught at the feeder 'Infant and Nursery' school. There, a lead-in stroke is taught in Reception with joining introduced later in KS1. We agreed that correct letter formation and joining strokes will need to be taught as part of the Y3 curriculum to fully embed knowledge.

We also agreed that teachers should be modelling the expected handwriting style, but that ‘on the spot’ note-taking, for example when children’s ideas are gathered at speed for the working wall, will demonstrate the expectations relevant to the year group, but might not always show final outcome expectations. This should be discussed as a teaching point in front of the children to promote composition and ‘authorship’. We agreed that we could see expectations for display and teacher modelling in the large majority of classrooms. Subject Leader will liaise with those teachers who need to make a few adjustments.

Queen Mother Handwriting Competition

We debated in our classes the reasons why handwriting is and isn't important, and agreed that a celebration of handwriting would be a good idea. See some of the children's ideas above.

To whittle the entries to the Queen Mother's competition down to twelve, we will first be holding a whole school competition to find three outstanding entries from each year group. The winners of this school handwriting competition will each receive a new fountain pen as a prize. They will then have their entries sent on to the regional competition to compete against schools from all over the East of England.

To enter the competition, children need to simply copy the poem below in their best handwriting onto a sheet of plain, unlined, A4 paper. The name of the poem and the poet should also be clearly written. The poem must not be illustrated, mounted or have a margin. We suggest using a line-guide and paper clips!

Winning entries below!

Handwriting Intervention

Teachers have identified children in in their year group who need further support with their handwriting. These children have then been included in an intervention group taking place during 'Explorer Afternoons'. Children develop their motor skills, and practise forming and joining different handwriting shapes, following our school approach, and have opportunity to apply their skills in a fun and focused setting. See below for an example of the impact: