At Templars, we teach children to write using cursive handwriting to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum. In Reception, children begin by learning to print letters and sounds. In Key Stage 1, throughout Years 1 and 2, children begin to use the diagonal strokes to form letters to prepare them to join, which many children achieve successfully by the end of Year 2. In Key Stage 2 (Years 3,4, 5 & 6), children refine their cursive writing to develop legibility, speed and stamina.

We use resources from Kinetic Letters throughout the school, from Nursery to Year 6. They use a combination of songs and animations to clearly demonstrate the correct start point, end point and direction of strokes for each letter and how to join different combinations of letters together.

The basis of Kinetic Letters follows 4 threads:

• Making Bodies Stronger

  • Physical strengthening of the body

  • Motor and spatial preparation

  • Enabling writing positions

• Learning the Letters

  • Dynamic movements for learning the letters

  • Text organisation

  • Sensory experiences for memory and recall

• Holding the Pencil

  • Optimal pencil hold for comfort and legibility

  • Strategies for left- and right-handers

  • Diagnostic tools for addressing errors

• Flow and Fluency

  • Stamina to write at length
  • Economy of movement and rhythm for speed
  • Joining letters in a 12-week programme

Strategies to use for handwriting practice at home:

Messy play – use sugar, salt, flour, sand, shaving cream or anything else and allow your child to write with their finger or other tool to carve out the letter shapes in the material. Writing on a bigger scale allows your child to accurately make the shapes more easily. The practical element also allows the child to feel the shape of the letters. 

Air writing

Whiteboards and pens – these allow children to make mistakes and edit them quickly without feeling they have "messed up" their work.

'Hand over hand' – hold the pencil yourself and ask the child to hold on to your hand so they can feel the movement.

Pencil Grips

Holding a pencil correctly is an important skill for children's development. We will support your child during their year in Reception to be able to write using a Dynamic Tripod Grip. The most important thing about this grip is that it becomes a habit for your child. Keep an eye on their grip at home and try to correct it as much as possible. It is easier for children to establish habits when they are young, so model the correct grip to your child through your own writing too.