Write from the Start

The ability to produce fluent, legible handwriting has been given an increased focus in the revised National Curriculum, and affects attainment in many areas. If a child struggles to master this vital skill the implications can be serious. However, the process of handwriting involves the complex co-ordination of motor, perceptual and cognitive skills which do not always develop spontaneously but which require considerable explanation, demonstration, experimentation and practice.

The Write from the start programme offers a radically different and effective approach that will guide children through the various stages of perceptual and fine-motor development to lay the foundations for flowing, accurate handwriting. The approach has proved to be highly successful in a variety of contexts, and with children with a range of needs.

The programme contains over 400 carefully graded activities that develop the intrinsic muscles of the hand so that children gain the necessary control to form letter shapes and create appropriate spaces between words, alongside the following perceptual skills required to orientate letters and organise the page:

• hand–eye co-ordination

• form constancy

• spatial organisation

• figure-ground discrimination

• orientation

• laterality.

This cumulative programme is structured into 8 sections. At each stage, the photocopiable exercise sheets can be made into booklets so that pupils, parents and teachers can easily monitor progress and achievement.

Contains: Workbook 1 (120 A4 pages), Workbook 2 (136 A4 pages) and a Teacher’s Handbook (20 A4 pages).

Age suitability: mainstream children aged 4–6 or older children with DCD/additional learning needs