Handwriting
New programme: Letter Village
Building handwriting fluency
Children love the new animated films in our Letter Village. They learn to become fluent writers using memorable visual cues.
The 10-minute films build confidence every day.
The best thing is that the children watch the films with you! Your efforts can go into supporting children who need extra help.
Each film in the programme is a complete whole-class handwriting lesson so no planning is needed.
Who are the Letter Village films for?
In Reception we teach every child how to hold a pencil comfortably and to form letters correctly using the mnemonics from our phonic lessons. This is Stage one of our handwriting programme.
Once children can write the letters, they are ready to join our Letter Village. At Stage two, children form letters that will flow into a joined style. These films will be available on the Ruth Miskin School Portal from July 2025 at no extra cost.
In later stages we teach children how to join the letters and then build fluency. These films will follow soon.
How do these films build handwriting fluency?
- Our memorable visual cues stick in children’s memories far better than copying letters and words
- Children look forward to their handwriting lessons because the stories behind the letter and joins are so engaging
- Each daily film builds from the last. This direct teaching and practice accelerates their progress.
Handwriting matters
Three reasons why children need fluent handwriting
- Good handwriting increases children’s motivation: their belief in themselves as writers is predicated on this, particularly in their first years at school.
- Writing involves many processes, so having fluent handwriting is one less thing to think about.
- And – however unfairly – teachers and children often judge a piece of legible, well-formed writing as better than one that isn’t.