Celebrating Writing!

Penpals Handwriting Scheme 

At Glade Hill we recognise that even in a technological, computer-literate age, good handwriting remains fundamental to our children’s educational achievement. We believe that a fluent and legible handwriting style empowers children to write with confidence and creativity. This skill needs to be taught with careful progression, discretely and frequently in order for children to master this skill at every stage.

To support our teaching of handwriting, we adopt the Cambridge University Press: Penpals handwriting scheme. It is a complete handwriting scheme for 3 – 11 year olds that is split into five developmental stages, meeting the expectations of the 2014 National Curriculum:

- physical preparation for handwriting (gross and fine motor skills leading to mark-making and letter formation)

- securing the correct letter formation

- beginning to join

- securing joins

- practicing speed, fluency and developing a personalised style for different purposes.

When children are secure in their letter joins and are writing fluently and at speed, they are awarded with a pen licence. They are rewarded with a pen licence in a writing celebration assembly where they share their work with their peers and sign their certificate which is their contract to using their pen in class!

To keep their pen licence they must:

- present all their work neatly

- continue to use their neatest joined handwriting in all their work.

Being awarded with a pen licence is a much sought after reward for our children. They take pride in their work and are keen to learn how to write in a joined and fluent style so they can be awarded with a pen! At the beginning of each academic year, children have to prove to their new teacher that they are still writing to the standard required in order to be rewarded with a brand new pen for the year.

Celebrating Year 5 Writing!

We are so proud of how hard Year 5 have been working on developing and improving their writing. They have been working on developing their language in their writing to really help the reader imagine what it would be like to experience a setting or meet a character for the first time. But also keeping within the purpose of their writing - to create an air of mystery for the reader!

Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed writing creatively about the clip below, and to celebrate their wonderful writing, it is displayed in full glory in their classroom!

Take a look at the film clip below and then read some of their work! What do you think?