Handwriting In The National Curriculum: Expectations For Years 1 To 6

What Does The National Curriculum Say About Handwriting?

The National Curriculum for English treats handwriting as part of transcription, alongside spelling, and asks for it to be taught from Year 1 to Year 6. Its handwriting statements are in the English programmes of study, published by the Department for Education on 16 July 2014.

Two kinds of text matter:

• Statutory requirements. The bullet points under "Pupils should be taught to". Maintained schools must teach them.
• Non-statutory notes and guidance. Explanations that help teachers apply the requirements.

Academies and free schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum, but must teach a broad and balanced curriculum, and most follow it closely. The DfE also publishes non-statutory guidance called The writing framework (July 2025), which is quoted on this page where it adds detail.

What Are The Year 1 Handwriting Expectations?

In Year 1, pupils should be taught to:

• sit correctly at a table, holding a pencil comfortably and correctly
• begin to form lower-case letters in the correct direction, starting and finishing in the right place
• form capital letters
• form digits 0-9
• understand which letters belong to which handwriting "families" (ie letters that are formed in similar ways) and to practise these

Non-statutory notes and guidance: "Handwriting requires frequent and discrete, direct teaching. Pupils should be able to form letters correctly and confidently. The size of the writing implement (pencil, pen) should not be too large for a young pupil's hand. Whatever is being used should allow the pupil to hold it easily and correctly so that bad habits are avoided. Left-handed pupils should receive specific teaching to meet their needs."

In practice: Year 1 is about getting every letter right before speed matters. Children learn where each lowercase letter starts and which way it goes, then capitals and numerals. The DfE writing framework adds that wide-lined paper is "essential at this stage". See letter formation, letter families and capital letter formation.

What Are The Year 2 Handwriting Expectations?

In Year 2, pupils should be taught to:

• form lower-case letters of the correct size relative to one another
• start using some of the diagonal and horizontal strokes needed to join letters and understand which letters, when adjacent to one another, are best left unjoined
• write capital letters and digits of the correct size, orientation and relationship to one another and to lower-case letters
• use spacing between words that reflects the size of the letters

Non-statutory notes and guidance: "Pupils should revise and practise correct letter formation frequently. They should be taught to write with a joined style as soon as they can form letters securely with the correct orientation."

In practice: Year 2 adds size, spacing and the first joins. Tall letters are taller than small ones, words have finger-width gaps, and joining starts once letters are secure. The DfE writing framework says joined handwriting should not be taught until pupils form print letters "correctly and consistently". See handwriting joins and handwriting in KS1.

What Are The Handwriting Expectations In Years 3 And 4?

In Years 3 and 4, pupils should be taught to:

• use the diagonal and horizontal strokes that are needed to join letters and understand which letters, when adjacent to one another, are best left unjoined
• increase the legibility, consistency and quality of their handwriting, for example by ensuring that the downstrokes of letters are parallel and equidistant, and that lines of writing are spaced sufficiently so that the ascenders and descenders of letters do not touch

Non-statutory notes and guidance: "Pupils should be using joined handwriting throughout their independent writing. Handwriting should continue to be taught, with the aim of increasing the fluency with which pupils are able to write down what they want to say. This, in turn, will support their composition and spelling."

In practice: Joining becomes the default in everyday writing, and the focus moves to quality: even downstrokes, even spacing, tall letters and tails that do not collide. See ascenders and descenders.

What Are The Handwriting Expectations In Years 5 And 6?

In Years 5 and 6, pupils should be taught to write legibly, fluently and with increasing speed by:

• choosing which shape of a letter to use when given choices and deciding whether or not to join specific letters
• choosing the writing implement that is best suited for a task

Non-statutory notes and guidance: "Pupils should continue to practise handwriting and be encouraged to increase the speed of it, so that problems with forming letters do not get in the way of their writing down what they want to say. They should be clear about what standard of handwriting is appropriate for a particular task, for example, quick notes or a final handwritten version. They should also be taught to use an unjoined style, for example, for labelling a diagram or data, writing an email address, or for algebra, and capital letters, for example, for filling in a form."

In practice: By the end of primary school, handwriting is a fast, legible tool and a matter of judgement. Pupils choose when to join and when to print. See handwriting in KS2 and handwriting speed.

Does The National Curriculum Require A Particular Handwriting Style?

No. The National Curriculum does not name a handwriting style or a scheme, so each school chooses its own, whether print, pre-cursive or a cursive model. The DfE writing framework says there is no expectation that schools teach lead-ins for joined handwriting from the start, and the National Curriculum does not require it.

For the differences between styles, see joined-up handwriting and handwriting schemes in the UK.

What Does Ofsted Look For In Handwriting?

Ofsted looks at handwriting as part of how well schools teach early writing and English. The DfE writing framework quotes Ofsted's 2024 English subject report, which found that in many schools the Reception and Year 1 curriculum does not sufficiently emphasise how to hold a pencil comfortably and sit at a table to write. It adds that weaknesses in letter formation and pen grip make it difficult for pupils to learn to join their handwriting.

What Comes Before Year 1 In The EYFS?

Two early learning goals in the EYFS lead into Year 1 handwriting. The fine motor skills goal asks children to "hold a pencil effectively in preparation for fluent writing", "using the tripod grip in almost all cases". The writing goal asks children to "write recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed". See handwriting in the EYFS.

How Is Handwriting Assessed At KS1 And KS2?

Handwriting is assessed as part of writing, through teacher assessment. Teacher assessment of writing at the end of KS2 is statutory, and the DfE says the frameworks are not an exhaustive list of criteria and are not a set of criteria for teaching. There is no separate handwriting test in the KS2 tests. At KS1, teacher assessment is non-statutory in 2025/26. For a practical classroom check, see the handwriting assessment checklist.

Is The Handwriting Curriculum Changing?

As of 24 September 2026, the handwriting statements above are still the statutory requirements in England. The Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final report and the government its response in November 2025, and the government aims to publish a revised National Curriculum by spring 2027 for full introduction from September 2028. The DfE writing framework says it will be updated to match a revised curriculum. This page is checked every term.