Handwriting

Handwriting is a complex skill that requires a child to use their visual and motor abilities as well as their attention, memory, cognitive (thinking) and language skills.

Children are expected to first explore making marks through scribbling, colouring, drawing and creating shapes. Next, they learn to recognise and write letters and numbers, before moving to writing words, sentences and paragraphs. As they move through school they are expected to write larger amounts and write at speed. 

Handwriting is often a challenge for children who have motor skill difficulties, they might struggle to; hold or control a pencil, plan how to form letters or numbers, or layout their writing on the page. So, children struggle with producing consistent, legible handwriting. They also might experience difficulty writing at speed, as they pause more to think of how to form letters and layout their writing. They may also have to concentrate more on the motor aspects of writing and end up feeling overwhelmed by the task. Often children with handwriting difficulties will use simpler words and sentences and write less than they are capable of as the effort of writing is so demanding.

Other conditions such as a Learning Disability, specific learning difficulties like Dyslexia, Autism (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), can also impact on the handwriting process for children.

Resources to support you

Here are some of our top tips to help handwriting practise: Top-tips-handwriting.pdf 

Guidance and resources to support schools or home educators to respond to primary and secondary age handwriting difficulties can be found here:

Y5 and below handwriting advice

Y5 and below – Handwriting Advice for Schools (learnsheffield.co.uk)

Y6 and above handwriting advice

Y6 and secondary- Handwriting Advice for Schools (learnsheffield.co.uk)

Dyslexia

Information about dyslexia can be found at the British Dyslexia Association (bdadyslexia.org.uk) and on this presentation: Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) – An Introduction (cloud.microsoft)

Motivation

Children who have difficulties with handwriting can become demoralised and demotivated. When this happens, it is important to be creative to find ways for a child to practise writing, shape-making or drawing using different mediums and topics that they enjoy – handwriting does not have to involve pencil / pen, paper and sitting at a desk! Here are some ideas to try: Ideas-for-handwriting

Referrals

We do not accept referrals for only handwriting difficulties, as this is most likely due to specific learning needs rather than motor difficulties. Referrals are accepted by therapy services if a child has a physical disability that is directly affecting their ability to handwrite or use technology, such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.