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 a word 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 (see appendix 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 Review date
April 2011 April 2014 1
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 pens Handwriting 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 Review date
April 2011 April 2014 2
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 Review date
April 2011 April 2014 3
