Building the Foundations for Fluent Writing
The Eaves Way to Handwriting
At Eaves Primary School, we teach a cursive handwriting style with a lead-in from the line as soon as children are ready. In the Early Years Foundation Stage and Year One, handwriting is taught alongside phonics through the Little Wandle programme, ensuring that letter formation and early writing develop securely and consistently. From Year Two, children move on to Letterjoin, an interactive handwriting scheme that supports fluent, joined handwriting and high standards of presentation. This progressive approach enables children to join their handwriting earlier and more easily as their confidence and control develop.
Our Aims and Principles
The Eaves Way to handwriting is built on three core principles:
Automaticity before acceleration
Consistency before speed
Fluency before presentation
We aim for our pupils to:
develop a positive and enthusiastic approach to handwriting and presentation
develop a legible and fluent style of handwriting
achieve consistency in the size and shape of letters
develop fluent joined handwriting where appropriate
Teaching Handwriting Across the School
Handwriting sessions are carefully planned and tailored to the age and stage of the children.
In the Early Years Foundation, handwriting is taught through the Little Wandle programme in short, focused sessions. This supports early writing development and ensures that correct letter formation, pencil grip, and posture are established from the outset.
From Year One, children follow the Letterjoin programme, taking part in regular handwriting sessions each week. As confidence and control develop, children are supported to refine their letter formation, introduce joins, and improve fluency.
High expectations for handwriting and presentation are consistently reinforced across all subjects and throughout the curriculum.
Printed Font
Children are exposed to a wide range of printed fonts and text styles. This is important in supporting reading development and helps children recognise letters and words in different formats, sizes, and contexts.
Pencil Grip and Posture
Children are taught and encouraged to use the tripod grip. Pencils should be held lightly between the thumb and forefinger, approximately 3cm from the point, with the middle finger providing additional support.
Children are also taught the importance of good posture. They should be sitting comfortably with both feet flat on the floor, with the paper positioned appropriately for their writing hand.
Left-Handed Children
Left-handed children are supported to use the tripod grip. During handwriting sessions, seating arrangements are carefully considered so that right-handed children are not seated on the left-hand side of a left-handed child. This helps to prevent elbows colliding and allows children to write comfortably and confidently.
Introducing Joined Handwriting
When children are confident in forming letters accurately, they move on to joining their handwriting. This is usually introduced during Year Two, although this may be earlier or later depending on individual readiness.
Pens are introduced once children can join their handwriting fluently and with control. By the end of Year Six, all pupils are expected to be able to write fluently using joined handwriting to meet the age-related expectations of the National Curriculum.
Assessment and Support
Handwriting is assessed on an ongoing basis by class teachers as part of everyday classroom practice. Children who experience difficulties with handwriting are supported through targeted guidance, modelling, and additional practice during handwriting sessions.
Our aim is for every child to develop confidence, fluency, and pride in their handwriting.
Our Handwriting Curriculum
Our handwriting curriculum is systematic, inclusive and cumulative, beginning in Nursery and continuing through to Year 6.
Early Years
Children develop the physical foundations for writing through a structured progression that builds:
Gross and fine motor control
Core strength and shoulder stability
Hand strength and coordination
Early pattern making and mark-making
Handwriting is introduced alongside phonics using Little Wandle, ensuring consistency and clarity from the start.
Key Stage 1
Pupils:
Secure accurate print letter formation
Develop correct size, orientation and spacing
Progress to pre-cursive and joined handwriting when ready
Daily practice supports fluency, accuracy and stamina, ensuring handwriting becomes increasingly automatic.
Key Stage 2
Pupils:
Refine a fluent, legible, joined handwriting style
Apply handwriting confidently and consistently across all subjects
Develop speed without compromising legibility
Teachers model high standards in all written work, reinforcing expectations across the curriculum.
Daily handwriting practice continues for pupils who are not yet fully fluent, ensuring teaching remains responsive until handwriting is fully automatic.
Inclusion and Support
At Eaves barriers to handwriting are identified early.
Support may include:
Targeted fine and gross motor interventions
Adapted equipment and writing tools
Additional modelling and guided practice
Personalised adjustments for pupils with SEND
Our inclusive approach ensures that every child experiences success, builds confidence and takes pride in their written work.
The Three Ps: Foundations for Successful Handwriting
Posture
Correct posture supports control, comfort and endurance.
Children are taught to:
Sit upright with their back straight and bottom at the back of the chair
Keep feet flat on the floor
Ensure the table is at a comfortable height
Use their non-writing hand to steady the paper
At Eaves we know that physical readiness and body position are essential for effective transcription and writing stamina.
Paper Position
Correct paper placement supports letter formation, flow and accuracy.
Children are taught to:
Place the paper at a slight angle
Right-handed writers: paper angled slightly to the left
Left-handed writers: paper angled slightly to the right
Keep the paper stable using the non-writing hand
At Eaves we know that this positioning reduces strain and supports smooth, left-to-right letter formation.
Pencil Grip
A secure, relaxed grip enables control without tension.
Children are taught to use a tripod grip, where:
The pencil is held between the thumb and index finger
It rests lightly on the middle finger
The grip is relaxed and positioned approximately 2–3 cm from the pencil tip
At Eaves adaptations and specialist grips are used where appropriate ensuring all pupils can access handwriting successfully.
Why Handwriting Matters
Research and inspection evidence are clear:
When handwriting becomes automatic, children can think more deeply about what they want to say rather than how to write it.
By securing strong handwriting foundations early, Eaves equips pupils with the skills, stamina and confidence to write independently, fluently and with purpose — now and in the future.
