Handwriting with Read Write Inc and Letterjoin

At Heathrow, we use the Letter-join scheme as the basis of our whole school approach to handwriting, progressing from EYFS to Year 6.

Please see the handwriting progression document to find out how handwriting is taught from EYFS to Year 6. 

Handwriting lessons are taught discretely at Heathrow from Years 1 to Year 6. Children starting nursery are taught to hold a pencil correctly and are encouraged to write their names. Continuous provision in Reception enables children to develop gross and fine motor skills. These skills underpin good handwriting skills. 

When children start learning initial letter sounds through the Read Write Inc phonics scheme, they are taught the formation of letters using the visual mnemonics.  Children are taught to handwrite using printed letters in Reception. In Key Stage 1, children begin to learn cursive handwriting and by Year 4, children are expected to have an efficient and legible cursive handwriting style.

Please see the information below to: 

• access Letterjoin at home
• help children in their early years to develop good handwriting skills
• know the letter family groups and what fonts are used at Heathrow Primary

Letter Formation Families 

Letters are created through joining lines and curve shapes in a particular way. They have a designated start point and set directional pushes and pulls of the pencil to reach the designated finish point. This is why the Letterjoin scheme teaches letter formation in groups or families rather than in alphabetical order. Certain groups use the same, or similar, shape and directional push and pulls of the pencil to form the letter, for instance the letter c has the same start point and anti-clockwise directional movement shape that is needed to create the letters a, d, g, o and, though a little more complicated, the letters s and e. Teaching letters in groups and families can also help to limit letter reversals such as b and d.

The four letter family groups are: 

• Ladder Letters: l, i, t, u, j, y.
• One-Armed Robot Letters: r, b, n, h, m, k, p.
• Curly Caterpillar Letters: c, a, o, d, g, q, e, s, f.
• Zigzag Monster Letters: v, w, x, z.

Parents and carers can download the Read, Write Inc handwriting practise sheets below.