Handwriting Interventions for Schools

Do any of the children in your class or at your school display the following handwriting difficulties?

  • poorly formed letters
  • slow, painful and laboured writing with poor endurance
  • poor organisation and spacing of writing on the page
  • poor or abnormal pencil grip
  • too much or too little pressure being put on the paper
  • reversals and transposition errors
  • poor sitting posture, leaning forwards with head on table or close to work or leaning backwards with arm extended
  • difficulty understanding the concepts of shape, size and form

It is common for children to have difficulties developing the skills and the appropriate pencil grip needed for fluent, legible handwriting. Handwriting is a complex task which requires the integration of many component skills. My aim as a physiotherapist is to assess each individual child’s underlying difficulties and develop a targeted treatment programme to address their specific handwriting deficits, which could include:

  • fine motor skills
  • trunk and upper limb control
  • visual perception
  • hand-eye co-ordination
  • postural control
  • visual-motor integration
  • hand strength
  • motor planning
  • pencil grip
  • bilateral and reciprocal integration
  • ocular-motor control
  • spatial awareness

My treatment methods include a combination of:

  • remedial exercises, activities and games
  • well recognised programmes
  • specialist remedial handwriting materials
  • advice on biomechanical and ergonomic factors impacting on handwriting
  • pencil grips and other aids and equipment as appropriate

Individual assessment and treatment sessions are held at the school and a parent, guardian or teaching assistant should accompany each child. Home exercises are given to each individual child at each session and for maximum benefit the child should be supported in completing them daily. It should therefore be decided at the outset whether the child will be supported at home or by staff at the school so that the appropriate adult can attend each session.

Individual assessment and treatment sessions are both priced at £50 for 1 hour.

There is also the option of additional weekly classes for children of similar ages and abilities. Each weekly class lasts 90 minutes and incorporates therapeutic exercises, games and activities. Children consider the class to be a “fun club” and are never aware of any failure. A parent or guardian should accompany each child and will be encouraged to participate. Classes can take place during school time, after school, at weekends or even during school holidays at the school’s preference.

Weekly classes are £15 per child (with a minimum of 4 children and a maximum of 6 per class). The school may choose to cover the costs itself or to pass the costs on to the individual parents.

“The physio sessions provided by Fiona for our son have made a HUGE difference to him. The sessions were fun and he looked forward to them each week. The difference in his handwriting really is incredible. He now forms his letters correctly and is even joining his letters and producing lovely written work for the first time ever. We really cannot recommend Fiona enough and owe her a massive thank you for all the work she put in with our son!”

– Teaching Assistant and parent of Year 3 pupil

For further information or to book my services, please email me or call me on 07780 513040.