What is our aim in teaching Handwriting?
Our aim is to help children develop clear, fluent, and confident handwriting that supports learning across all subjects. Using the Kinetic Letters® approach, handwriting is taught as both a physical and cognitive skill, helping children to write comfortably, quickly, and automatically.
When handwriting becomes automatic, children can focus on what they want to say, rather than how to form letters. This makes writing a valuable tool rather than a hindrance, boosting confidence, engagement, and achievement across the curriculum.
Kinetic Letters improves handwriting legibility, speed, and stamina, supports reading, spelling, and editing, and develops self-esteem, creativity, and engagement with learning. It is evidence-informed and designed to help all children make rapid progress from any starting point.
How does our approach work?
We use the Kinetic Letters® programme from Preschool to Year 6, which builds handwriting automaticity by teaching mastery of the physical and cognitive components of writing.
The programme is structured around four key threads:
1. Making Bodies Stronger
- Strengthens the body, shoulders, arms, and hands
- Develops motor and spatial skills for writing
- Supports correct sitting and writing positions
2. Learning the Letters
- Letters are taught in families based on how they move
- Learning progresses from whole-body movements, to sand trays, whiteboards, and paper
- Uses the Bounce (brave) and Skip (scared) monkeys to show where letters start and how they move
- The Kinetic Letters tree guides letter height, placement, and proportions
- Sensory experiences support memory and recall
3. Holding the Pencil
- Encourages a comfortable, legible grip
- Provides strategies for left- and right-handers
- Includes tools to diagnose and correct errors
4. Flow and Fluency
- Minimizes unnecessary movements for fast, automatic writing
- Builds stamina to write at length
- Teaches joining letters in a 12-week programme
- Supports economy of movement and rhythm for speed
Kinetic Letters is compatible with all reading and phonics programmes and meets National Curriculum requirements, Early Learning Goals, and expected standards for unjoined and joined handwriting.
What are the key principles of our Handwriting approach?
Our handwriting curriculum is structured, supportive, and ambitious for all children.
Key principles include:
- Handwriting is taught as a physical and cognitive skill
- Children are supported to develop core strength and coordination
- Letters are taught in families and sequences to make learning easier
- Correct pencil grip and posture are emphasised
- Writing is practised regularly and systematically, building automaticity and fluency
- Flow and rhythm are taught to make handwriting fast, legible, and effortless
- Progression is systematic, from unjoined to joined handwriting
- Strategies are consistent across all year groups, creating a whole-school approach
How does our approach help children to know more and remember more over time?
- Children practise letters, movements, and writing skills regularly, building memory and automaticity
- Skills are revisited frequently, so they are retained
- The programme develops stamina, speed, and fluency as children progress
- Handwriting practice is linked to reading, phonics, spelling, and editing, supporting all areas of learning
- Feedback and diagnostic tools help teachers identify errors and give immediate support
- Learning is structured and sequential, ensuring steady progress for every child
- Automatic handwriting reduces cognitive load, allowing children to focus on creativity and content
What is taught and when?
Preschool
Children begin handwriting by developing foundations for writing through play:
- Building core, arm, and shoulder strength
- Developing coordination and control
- Exploring shapes, lines, and patterns
- Practising early mark-making
Reception to Year 6
Children follow the Kinetic Letters approach:
- Letters are taught in families with movement patterns
- Learning progresses from air writing, sand trays, and whiteboards to paper
- Children use the Bounce and Skip monkeys and the Kinetic Letters tree
- Focus moves from accuracy to fluency and automaticity
- Children learn to write joined letters systematically in Key Stage 2
- Handwriting supports reading, phonics, spelling, editing, and creativity
Children practise writing for different purposes across the curriculum, building confidence, speed, and stamina.
How much Handwriting teaching happens each week?
- Preschool: Short, playful activities (~10 minutes)
- Reception to Year 6: Daily handwriting sessions (15–30 minutes)
- Practice is reinforced across the curriculum
- Children who need extra support receive additional guided practice to ensure steady progress
In Summary
Our approach to handwriting helps children to:
- Build strong bodies and arms for writing
- Hold a pencil comfortably and correctly
- Form letters accurately and legibly
- Write fluently, automatically, and efficiently
- Build stamina for longer writing tasks
- Feel confident and proud of their handwriting
