Handwriting is explicitly taught using the letterjoin model and correct fonts. It is taught from Reception to Year 3 (interventions continue where needed). 

Fine motor and gross motor warm ups happen before handwriting in the lower years.

Letters are taught first before moving on to words. Words are not taught alongside letters until formation is correct. 

The process for handwriting is as follows:

Pre-writing patterns
Print
Lead in and lead out lines
Joined handwriting

A correct seating position is crucial for good handwriting and is outlined below. 

Expected hand grip is highlighted below:

Year R – print
Year 1 – print
Year 2 – lead ins and lead outs
Year 3 – begin to join letters
Year 4 – joined writing expected
Year 5  - joined writing expected
Year 6 – joined writing expected

This does mean, that for most children, pen licenses would not be appropriate until at least year 4.

Teachers use the handwriting style relevant to their class when modelling, marking or creating handwritten displays.

Lessons last 15 minutes maximum. 3 minutes approx. for warm up and checks, 7 minutes approx. to teach, and then 5 minutes total for writing practise. Little and often is best as it is about perfection rather than pages of the same. Lessons are slightly different for each year group but run similar to this:

Gross motor skills warm up
Fine motor skills warm up
Posture check and grip rhyme
Animated video to model for the lesson (from letterjoin- SOUND OFF)
Air write (letter)
Paper practise in handwriting book
Handwriting sheet to be sent home as homework

Children will only receive a pen license when their teacher believes their writing is consistent across all areas of the curriculum. This shouldn’t be appropriate until at least year 4 and will analysed by the handwriting lead with the phrase ‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’ written three times on the same piece of paper.