Transcription – Handwriting and Spelling
At The Grange Primary School, we appreciate that writing is a complex process and believe it is essential that transcription skills (pencil grip, letter formation and spelling) must be automatic to remove barriers to learning for recording oral composition. Therefore, we invest in handwriting and spelling practise as an essential foundation in developing writing as a whole.
Handwriting at The Grange Primary School is taught using the Nelson scheme, which offers a consistent and progressive approach to handwriting, ensuring that pupils meet the expected standard at the end of each stage. Handwriting is practised regularly in discrete sessions and is reinforced by teaching staff across the curriculum in order to support our pupils to develop their fine motor skills and ensure a fluent and effective handwriting style is established, so they can write legibly at speed. In EYFS, handwriting is taught in line with the EYFS statutory framework, focusing on fine and gross motor skills (including the use of strategies such as Dough Disco) and letter formation. In Year 1, handwriting is taught using Nelson at Blue level, focusing on letter formation and appropriate letter size. In Years 2-6, handwriting is taught progressively using Nelson at Red level, focusing on letter joins, increasing consistency and legibility to develop a personal handwriting style and apply to a range of writing opportunities. Additionally, our pupils progress from lined books (EYFS-Y1), to tramlines (Y1-Y3), to line guides (Y4-6) and have the opportunity to earn pen licences. This encourages our pupils to have high standards and pride in the presentation of their work.