Handwriting Schemes UK: A Neutral Comparison For Primary Schools

Compare Handwriting Schemes

Last checked: 24 September 2026. Publishers change their products, so tell us through the contact page if a row is out of date.

Which Handwriting Schemes Do UK Schools Use?

UK handwriting schemes are published programmes that set a letter style, a teaching order and resources for teaching handwriting from Reception to Year 6. The widely used ones include:

• Kinetic Letters, built on four threads of physical and cognitive skills.
• Letter-join, a subscription with animations, worksheets and fonts.
• Nelson Handwriting, OUP's book-based whole-school scheme.
• Penpals for Handwriting, Cambridge's scheme built around whole-class digital modelling.
• Twinkl Handwriting, part of Twinkl's membership, with two style routes.

Some phonics programmes, such as Read Write Inc., include letter formation, and some schools build their own approach from free resources.

How Do You Choose A Handwriting Scheme?

Choose a scheme that fits your school's style, your pupils and your budget. The National Curriculum does not require any particular scheme. Eight questions help:

1. Which style do we want? Print first, pre-cursive or continuous cursive.
2. When do joins start? Check it matches the DfE framework's advice that joins wait until print letters are secure.
3. Does it cover the EYFS? Including physical readiness and pencil grip.
4. How is modelling done? Animations, teacher guides or both.
5. How much does it cost over three years? Include books, subscriptions and training.
6. What training is included? For teachers and teaching assistants.
7. Does it support SEND and left-handers?
8. Is there evidence? Ask the publisher what independent evidence exists.

See handwriting and the National Curriculum for what is required.

Which Handwriting Style Does Each Scheme Teach?

Schemes differ mainly in whether children start with print or with joined letters, and whether letters have lead-ins. Kinetic Letters uses no lead-in strokes. Letter-join lets schools choose print or joined fonts, with or without entry strokes.

Twinkl offers unlooped cursive or looped continuous cursive. Nelson introduces cursive in stages. See pre-cursive handwriting and cursive handwriting for what each style means.

What Is Each Handwriting Scheme?

What Is Kinetic Letters?

Kinetic Letters is a handwriting programme for primary and secondary schools that moves from unjoined to joined writing, with no lead-in strokes. It uses four threads: making bodies stronger, holding the pencil, learning the letters, and flow and fluency. Letters are formed by two monkeys, Bounce, who climbs to the top branch, and Skip, who goes to the lower branch. Movements start with the whole body, then sand trays, whiteboards and paper.

What Is Letter-Join?

Letter-join is a whole-school handwriting subscription from Green and Tempest that offers animations, online games and worksheets in a print or joined font, with or without entry strokes. A subscription includes pupil use at home and fonts for Word. The publisher's price example is 8 classroom accounts for £396 + VAT in the first year, then £296 + VAT a year. Its lesson guide suggests short daily lessons in the EYFS and Year 1, and two longer lessons a week in Years 3 to 6.

What Is Nelson Handwriting?

Nelson Handwriting is an Oxford University Press scheme for Reception to Year 6 that introduces cursive handwriting in step-by-step stages. OUP's progression introduces the idea of joining through patterns in Year 1, the diagonal and horizontal joins in Year 2, and all four joins in Year 3, with break letters b, g, j, p, q, y and z left unjoined. It comes with pupil books, workbooks and an online subscription.

What Is Penpals For Handwriting?

Penpals for Handwriting is a Cambridge University Press & Assessment scheme for ages 3 to 11 that moves through five stages: physical preparation, correct letter formation, beginning to join, securing the joins, and speed, fluency and a personal style. It focuses on whole-class teaching with digital resources for modelling, alongside practice books and workbooks. Foundation levels cover the EYFS.

What Is Twinkl Handwriting?

Twinkl Handwriting is a whole-school scheme for EYFS to Year 6 with two routes: a journey to cursive, unlooped, or a journey to continuous cursive, looped. It includes animated letter formations, warm-up animations and free fonts, and sits within Twinkl membership.

What About Read Write Inc. And Other Phonics Programmes?

Read Write Inc. teaches letter formation within phonics, with letters formed "that will flow into a joined style", and joining in later stages. The DfE framework says handwriting teaching is additional to any handwriting in phonics, so schools using a phonics programme still need a handwriting approach.

Is There Evidence That Handwriting Schemes Work?

Few handwriting schemes have independent trials. The best-known evaluated programme in England is the Education Endowment Foundation's Helping Handwriting Shine. It is an intervention, not a whole-school scheme. In two randomised trials across 103 schools, the targeted Year 5 version gave two additional months' progress in writing, while the whole-class Year 2 version made no additional progress. The EEF says it is not currently available to schools.

Ask any publisher what evidence it has, and how it was measured. See handwriting intervention.

Are There Free Handwriting Schemes?

Yes. Some schools build their own approach from free resources, together with a consistent letter style and a progression map. Teachhandwriting.co.uk offers free letter animations and worksheets, and the National Handwriting Association publishes guidance for teachers. Our Handwriting Repeater is a free modelling aid that works alongside any scheme. See handwriting progression to build your own sequence.