Handwriting Teaching Scheme

Our Scheme takes a holistic view of teaching handwriting, developing both a child’s Key Strengths (Gross & Fine Motor Skills) and Key Abilities (Knowledge) from Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 2. It’s systematic, differentiated and progressive approach supports children of all ability levels.

A choice of teaching routes

The Scheme provides the timetables for the following four Teaching Routes:

Route A

To first teach the print font style; next the single letter cursive font style; then the joining letter entry strokes; finally joining the letters.

Route B

To first teach the print font style; then the single letter continuous cursive font style; finally joining the letters.

Route C

To first teach a single letter cursive font style; next the entry stokes for joining letters; then joining the letters.

Route D

To teach a single continuous cursive font style; then joining the letters.

We need to know the Route you are going to follow so that we can send you the correct Foundation Stage Prompt Cards and Scheme worksheets.

A choice of letter versions

We offer 2 types of print font, our original "ball and stick" and a new modern "UK Phonics friendly" one.

As the letters f and k, in our "UK Phonics Friendly" print font, can be written in different ways, impacting on which letter family they are taught in, we offer you 4 letter combination choices (Versions 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Most of the letters within our cursive and continuous cursive font are of a standard style however we do offer two letter versions for the letters w, x and z.

Print - Ball and Stick

Version 1

Modern Print Letter Versions

Version 2

Version 3

Version 4

Version 5

Cursive Letter Versions

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Version 4

Continuous Cursive Letter Versions

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Version 4

Because our single letters are taught in letter families we need to know which version you want to use as this dictates which of our prompt cards, word lists, worksheets, desktop crib sheets and alphabet friezes we send you and the animations appearing on your school channel.

Foundation Stage (4 - 5 year olds) - £330 + VAT

Our Foundation Stage Teaching Pack concentrates on getting children ready for handwriting by:

Foundation Stage Teaching Pack contents

Foundation Stage Teaching Manual

Each Teaching Route has its own progressive 6 week half-termly timetable to provide you with the flexibility of when to teach the lessons.

The top of the timetable shows the physical ability activities that will build the gross and fine motor skills (Key Strengths) needed for handwriting. These are colour coded to identify which Key Strengths you are developing.

Underneath in the dark blue section are the specific handwriting lessons to be taught (Key Abilities). These cover the supporting activities of sitting, pencil grip and paper tilt as well as specific letter formation and letter joining lessons (as appropriate). For the supporting activities the timetables specify when they should be taught. For the letter formation and joining lessons (as appropriate) the timetables specify which letters and joins should be taught.

The majority of the lessons have been differentiated and so you choose which lesson level to teach your children.

To the right of the timetables the other skill factors that the activities develop are highlighted.

Detailed, colour coded, lesson plans have been designed to be accessible to all educators and provide:

  • lesson aims,
  • learning objectives,
  • resource list,
  • lesson instructions, and
  • plenaries (round up).

Fully differentiated lesson plans cover:

  • Gross and fine motor skills games and activities.
  • Non-pencil lessons teaching pre-handwriting patterns and letters.
  • Sitting correctly.
  • Hand dominance development.
  • Pencil grip development.
  • Paper and pencil lessons teaching pre-handwriting patterns and letters.
  • Paper position and tilt.
  • Letter joining (if appropriate).

Other Teaching Manual contents

  • Assessment sheets covering:
    • Physical abilities.
    • Pencil grip.
    • Single letter formation.
    • Letter joins (if applicable).
  • Physical abilities intervention programs.
  • Word lists for high frequency words and letter join type.

Prompt Cards (A4 laminated)

Our Prompt Cards support the development of both visual and motor memory skills and also build the knowledge of letter position and placement.

The picture clues used on the Prompt Cards are carried forward to the worksheets.

In your pack you get:

  • 58 Pre-handwriting pattern cards
  • 26 Capital letter cards
  • 26 Lower-case letter cards
  • 10 Number cards

USB Memory stick

On your USB stick there are over 1,000 worksheets that progress from large lined picture clue worksheets through to normal handwriting lined worksheets with colour prompts at the start of the line. You choose the correct worksheet for the children and only print what you need.

The posters you need for the lessons are also included together with desktop letter crib sheets and alphabet friezes.

The worksheet development level is identified by a colour and shape.

You get on your USB stick:

  • 3 levels for pre-handwriting patterns
  • 7 levels for capital letters
  • 9 levels for lower-case letters
  • 7 levels for joining letters
  • 9 levels for numbers
  • 6 levels for symbols
  • 9 levels of blank worksheets

School Animation Channel

Your animation channel just hosts the videos for your chosen Teaching Route and Letter Version, supporting a whole school approach to teaching handwriting.

In addition to the free animations on our website your channel has an animation to support every one of the Scheme worksheets.

There are also additional animations to support some of the lessons.

School Photocopy Licence

As part of the Scheme the school is allowed to photocopy (not digitally copy), for its use only, from the Teaching Manual.

Key Stage 1 (5 - 7 year olds) - £275 + VAT

Our Key Stage 1 Teaching Pack concentrates on learning to handwriting by:

Key Stage 1 Teaching Pack contents

Key Stage 1 Teaching Manual

The Teaching Manual has been designed so that it can be split into Year 1 and Year 2, with each year having all the information it needs to run the Scheme.

Each Teaching Route has its own progressive 6 week half-termly timetables to provide you with the flexibility of when to teach the lessons. There are two timetables, one for handwriting warm up exercises and handwriting lessons whilst the other covers PE warm up and cool down activities.

The top of the timetable shows the handwriting warm up activities the children should do in the lesson (colour coded to identify which Key Strengths you are developing) whilst the dark blue bottom section shows the handwriting lesson to be taught. For the letter formation and joining lessons the timetables specify which letters and joins should be taught.

The majority of the lessons have been differentiated and so you choose which lesson level to teach your children.

To the right of the timetables additional guidance notes are provided.

Detailed, colour coded, lesson plans have been designed to be accessible to all educators and provide:

  • lesson aims,
  • learning objectives,
  • resource list,
  • lesson instructions, and
  • plenaries (round up).

Fully differentiated lesson plans cover:

  1. Sitting correctly.
  2. Pencil grip development.
  3. Paper position and tilt.
  4. Single letter formation.
  5. Letter joining.

Other Teaching Manual contents

  • Gross and fine motor skills games and activities
  • Assessment sheets covering:
    • Physical abilities.
    • Pencil grip.
    • Single letter formation.
    • Letter joins (if applicable).
  • Physical abilities intervention programs.
  • Word lists for high frequency words and letter join type.
  • Sentence starter ideas to support capital letter usage.

USB Memory stick

On your USB stick there are over 1,000 worksheets that progress from large lined picture clue worksheets through to normal handwriting lined worksheets with colour prompts at the start of the line. You choose the correct worksheet for the children and only print what you need.

The posters you need for the lessons are also included together with desktop letter crib sheets and alphabet friezes.

The worksheet development level is identified by a colour and shape.

You get on your USB stick:

  • 3 levels for pre-handwriting patterns
  • 7 levels for capital letters
  • 9 levels for lower-case letters
  • 7 levels for joining letters
  • 9 levels for numbers
  • 6 levels for symbols
  • 9 levels of blank worksheets

School Animation Channel

Your animation channel just hosts the videos for your chosen Teaching Route and Letter Version, supporting a whole school approach to teaching handwriting.

In addition to the free animations on our website your channel has an animation to support every one of the Scheme worksheets.

There are also additional animations to support some of the lessons.

School Photocopy Licence

As part of the Scheme the school is allowed to photocopy (not digitally copy), for its use only, from the Teaching Manual.

Key Stage 2 (7 - 11 year olds) - £250 + VAT

Our Key Stage 2 Teaching Pack concentrates on refining handwriting skills by:

Key Stage 2 Teaching Pack contents

Key Stage 2 Teaching Manual

The Teaching Manual has been designed so that it can be split into Year 3, 4 and 5/6 with each year having all the information it needs to run the Scheme.

Each Teaching Route has its own progressive 6 week half-termly timetables to provide you with the flexibility of when to teach the lessons. There are two timetables, one for handwriting warm up exercises and lessons whilst the other covers PE warm up and cool down activities.

The top of the timetable shows the handwriting warm up activities the children should do before the lesson (colour coded to identify which Key Strengths you are developing) whilst the dark blue bottom section shows the lesson to be taught. For the letter formation and joining lessons the timetables specify which letters and joins should be taught.

The majority of the lessons have been differentiated and so you choose which lesson level to teach your children.

To the right of the timetables additional guidance notes are provided.

Specific timetables aren’t provided for Years 5/6, because the children should be writing fluently by then, however information and guidance is provided to teach children who need extra support.

Detailed, colour coded, lesson plans have been designed to be accessible to all educators and provide:

  • lesson aims,
  • learning objectives,
  • resource list,
  • lesson instructions, and
  • plenaries (round up).

Fully differentiated lesson plans cover:

  1. Optional sitting correctly.
  2. Optional pencil grip.
  3. Optional paper position and tilt.
  4. Single letter formation (optional).
  5. Letter joining.
  6. Dictation to build speed and fluidity.

Other Teaching Manual contents

  • Gross and fine motor skills games and activities
  • Assessment sheets covering:
    • Physical abilities.
    • Pencil grip.
    • Single letter formation.
    • Letter joins.
  • Physical abilities intervention programs.
  • Word lists for high frequency words and letter join type.
  • Sentence starter ideas to support capital letter usage.
  • Differentiated dictation sentences.

USB Memory stick

On your USB stick there are over 1,000 worksheets that progress from large lined picture clue worksheets through to normal handwriting lined worksheets with colour prompts at the start of the line. You choose the correct worksheet for the children and only print what you need.

The posters you need for the lessons are also included together with desktop letter crib sheets and alphabet friezes.

The worksheet development level is identified by a colour and shape.

You get on your USB stick:

  • 3 levels for pre-handwriting patterns
  • 7 levels for capital letters
  • 9 levels for lower-case letters
  • 7 levels for joining letters
  • 9 levels for numbers
  • 6 levels for symbols
  • 9 levels of blank worksheets

School Animation Channel

Your animation channel just hosts the videos for your chosen Teaching Route and Letter Version, supporting a whole school approach to teaching handwriting.

In addition to the free animations on our website your channel has an animation to support every one of the Scheme worksheets.

There are also additional animations to support some of the lessons.

School Photocopy Licence

As part of the Scheme the school is allowed to photocopy (not digitally copy), for its use only, from the Teaching Manual.