Handwriting

At St James CE Infant and Nursery School one of our core values is to promote and in still a high standard of handwriting that is consistent throughout the curriculum. As the DFE Writing Framework 2026 states, 'The importance of handwriting cannot be overstated'. We recognise the importance of children being able to write in a style that is legible, fluent and correctly formed. With all these skills, children have a much greater choice of being able to reach and demonstrate their true potential throughout their school journey and beyond. 

Handwriting is taught through daily , discreet handwriting sessions, phonics, guided writing and in all modelled writing across the curriculum. Handwriting is taught using the school's chosen scheme which is Nelson Handwriting. This teaches the following:

• Pre-handwriting patterns in the Early Years
• Printed handwriting in the EYFS
• Continuous cursive letters in KS1
• Continuous cursive joined letters in Y2
• Capital letters in EYFS and KS1

In the EYFS  children are taught in handwriting families - see example below.