Kinetic Letters
At Reddal Hill Primary School, we follow the Kinetic Letter® handwriting programme. It is designed to develop fluent, legible, and efficient handwriting using a movement‑based, whole‑body approach.
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Physical Preparation: The ‘Strength‘ Programme Builds:
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Letter Families Letters are grouped by their movement:
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Joining (Year 2 and KS2) Once children are ready, they learn:
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Handwriting is taught in dedicated Kinetic Letters sessions, separate from writing lessons. The programme combines strength‑building, accurate letter formation, joining skills, and opportunities to apply handwriting in structured practice.
The Kinetic Letters programme starts in the Early Years Foundation Stage, with a clear focus on strength, posture and pencil hold, before letter formation is taught. By the end of KS1, each pupil should be working at the national standard and some should be working at a greater depth (using some of the strokes needed to join letters). By the end of KS2, pupils should be working at the expected standard.
Strength
Building physical strength underpins handwriting and concentration. This knowledge informs the working positions that children use for writing and the strengthening targets they work on. Strength positions are utilised during daily lessons, as appropriate, to ensure that pupils build strength and stamina.
Pencil hold
Correct pencil hold is taught from the start (i.e. as soon as a tri-pod grip is developmentally appropriate).
Letter formation / Flow and Fluency
The movements to form the letters begin with whole body movements and progress to writing in sand trays, to writing on whiteboards and finally writing on paper. In Kinetic Letters, all the letters and numbers are formed next to one of two monkeys; a brave monkey who sits on the top branch of the tree, and a scared monkey, who sits on the lower branch. Different components of writing (letter formation and joins), are mastered individually before being used in combination.
Speed Write
We have recently developed the Kinetic Letter Programme to introduce ‘Speed Write’, a structured approach that teaches pupils to write at length while maintaining fluency, accuracy and high standards of presentation. The focus of Speed Write is to support pupils in developing sustained, efficient handwriting and composition skills, enabling them to produce well‑organised and well‑presented written work over extended periods.
All staff have exceptional high expectations, with regard to handwriting and presentation, which reflect in their own handwriting and presentation in marking and the environment. Additionally, children will work in exercise books which have the Kinetic Letters guidelines, specific to Early Years, KS1 and KS2.
Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Reddal Hill Primary School’s SEND policy applies. However, the Kinetic Letters programme is applicable to all pupils.