Handwriting

Progression Grid

Early Years Foundation Stage KS1 KS2

Three and Four-Year-Olds

Reception Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
Early Learning Goals
• Use large-muscle movements to • To write lower case and • To write capital letters • To use a neat, joined • To increase the legibility, • To increase the speed of • To write legibly, fluently
wave flags and streamers, paint capital letters in the and digits of the correct handwriting style with consistency and quality their handwriting so that and with increasing
and make marks. correct direction, starting size, orientation and increasing accuracy and of their handwriting problems with forming speed by choosing which
and finishing in the right relationship to one speed. by ensuring that the letters do not get in the way shape of a letter to use
• Use one-handed tools and
place with a good level of another and to lower downstrokes of letters are of writing down what they when given choices and
equipment, for example, making
consistency. case letters. parallel and equidistant want to say. deciding whether or not
snips in paper with scissors.
• To sit correctly at a • To form lower case and by ensuring that lines • To be clear about what to join specific letters and
• Use a comfortable grip with good table, holding a pencil letters of the correct size, of writing are spaced standard of handwriting is by choosing the writing
control when holding pens and comfortably and relative to one another. sufficiently so that the appropriate for a particular implement that is best
pencils correctly. • To use spacing between ascenders and descenders task, e.g. quick notes or a suited for a task.
• To form the digits 0-9. words that reflects the of letters do not touch. final handwritten version.
• Shows a preference for a dominant
• To understand which size of the letters.
hand.
letters belong to which
• Use some of their print and letter handwriting ‘families’ (i.e.
knowledge in their early writing. letters that are formed
For example: writing a pretend in similar ways) and to
Letter Formation, Placement and Positioning

shopping list that starts at the top practise these.

of the page; write ‘m’ for mummy.
• Write some letters accurately.
• Develop their small motor skills
so that they can use a range of
tools competently, safely and
confidently. Suggested tools:
pencils for drawing and writing,
paintbrushes, scissors, knives,
forks and spoons.
• Use their core muscle strength
to achieve a good posture when
sitting at a table or sitting on the
floor.
• Develop the foundations of a
handwriting style which is fast,
accurate and efficient.
• Form lower case and capital letters
correctly.
• Hold a pencil effectively in
preparation for fluent writing –
using the tripod grip in almost all
cases.
• Write recognisable letters, most of
which are correctly formed.

• To begin to use the • To continue to use the • To confidently use diagonal • To confidently use diagonal • To recognise when to use
diagonal and horizontal diagonal and horizontal and horizontal joining and horizontal joining an unjoined style (e.g. for
Joining Letters

strokes needed to join strokes that are needed strokes throughout their strokes throughout their labelling a diagram, for
letters. to join letters and to independent writing to independent writing in a writing an email address
understand which letters, increase fluency. legible, fluent and speedy or for algebra) and capital
when adjacent to one way. letters (e.g. for filling in a
another, are best left form).
unjoined.

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