Page 21 - BOSS Today Issue 40

SPECIAL FEATURE BOSS Today #40

National Handwriting Association will involve at least some handwriting Outside of this, there are other
(www.nha-handwriting.org.uk) and many require the communication initiatives for schools to focus on
would certainly agree with, claiming of critical information (eg medical handwriting, such as the Queen
that “Despite the increased use of notes, prescriptions). Thus, handwriting Mother’s Handwriting Award, which
computers for writing, the skill of with pen and paper still has an has been running since 1977, as well as
handwriting remains important in important role from early childhood the National Handwriting Day, which
education, employment and in everyday through our adult lives.” (National falls on the 23rd January every year,
life. Time devoted to the teaching and Handwriting Association website) and “celebrates and commemorates
learning of letter formation in the However, despite the urgency of the practice of handwriting with a
early years will pay off. Legible writing these claims, there is at present pen or pencil” and has been running
that can be produced comfortably, at no detailed national policy on since as far back as 1977, when far-
speed and with little conscious effort handwriting in schools: the National sighted educators in the USA began to
allows a child to attend to the higher- Curriculum teacher assessment feel that “the art of handwriting was
level aspects of writing composition frameworks for Key Stages 1 and 2 beginning to disappear as a requisite
and content. This is important when generally only set goals for letter skill”.
assessments are based on written work, formation, spacing and legibility. As So, from Craik’s point of view, there
particularly in time-limited written a result, the National Handwriting is vital work here for the new WIA
examinations, which remain as a major Association places the emphasis on to get involved in: “There doesn’t
form of assessment for many formal individual schools, advising that “It appear to be a single message in
qualifications. Without fast and legible is as vital for an effective school to schools about handwriting. It may be
handwriting, students may miss out have a handwriting policy as to have something that, putting our ‘industry
on learning opportunities and under- a reading policy and preferable that leaders’ hat on, we in the WIA can
achieve academically. Beyond formal the handwriting policy is reviewed and make representations to government
education, most employment situations revived every few years.” about.”

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Look out for our cinema
www.pentel.co.uk campaign this summer!

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