Handwriting In KS1: Year 1 And Year 2 Expectations, Plans And Activities

Year 1 And Year 2 At A Glance

What Do Children Learn In KS1 Handwriting?

KS1 handwriting takes children from forming single letters correctly in Year 1 to writing evenly sized letters with their first joins in Year 2. The National Curriculum sets the expectations, and the DfE writing framework explains how to teach them.

Two ideas run through both years. Correct formation comes before speed, and joining waits until print letters are secure. The full statutory wording is on handwriting and the National Curriculum.

What Does Handwriting In Year 1 Involve?

Year 1 is about forming every lowercase letter, capitals and digits correctly, starting and finishing in the right place. The National Curriculum asks Year 1 pupils to sit correctly at a table, hold 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 and digits 0-9, and understand which letters belong to which handwriting families.

The DfE writing framework adds that wide-lined paper is "essential at this stage", with mid-line guides to help, and narrower lines once children write legibly and easily on wide ones.

One way to plan Year 1:

This is a suggestion, not a requirement. The DfE does not set an order for families, so follow your scheme. See letter families, capital letter formation and number formation.

What Does Handwriting In Year 2 Involve?

Year 2 adds size, spacing and the first joins. The National Curriculum asks pupils to form lowercase letters "of the correct size relative to one another", start using some of the diagonal and horizontal strokes needed to join letters, write capitals and digits of the correct size, and use spacing between words that reflects the size of the letters.

The guidance adds that pupils should revise and practise letter formation frequently. The DfE writing framework says joined handwriting should not be taught until pupils form print letters "correctly and consistently".

One way to plan Year 2:

See handwriting joins, pre-cursive handwriting and common exception words.

What Should Handwriting Look Like At The End Of KS1?

By the end of Year 2, handwriting is legible, evenly sized and spaced, and starts to be joined. Five checks:

1. Every lowercase letter starts in the right place and moves in the right direction.
2. Tall letters are taller than small letters, and tails drop below the line.
3. Capitals and digits are the right size and the right way round.
4. There is a clear gap between words.
5. Joins are used in some writing, with letters left unjoined where the school's model leaves them.

Concerned about your child? See improve your child's handwriting for what is typical and when to ask for advice.

Which Handwriting Activities Work In KS1?

Short daily sessions work better than long ones. The DfE writing framework says handwriting should be taught daily until pupils can write legibly and easily.

• Warm up. A two-minute hand and finger warm-up. See warm-ups.
• Model. Show the letter or join, and say the movement.
• Practise. Write it in books, with the teacher checking start points.
• Dictate. Say a word or sentence and have children write it, which the framework says helps.
• Use real sentences. See practice sentences.

How Is Handwriting Assessed At The End Of KS1?

Handwriting is assessed as part of writing, through teacher judgement. Teacher assessment at KS1 is non-statutory in 2025/26, so schools decide how to record it. A practical starting point is the handwriting assessment checklist.

The Education Endowment Foundation found in a large trial that a whole-class handwriting programme for Year 2 produced no additional progress in overall writing ability, though staff and pupils viewed it positively. That is a reminder to keep handwriting teaching focused, and to measure what changes.