Parents Beware – The ‘Thumb Wrap’ Pencil/Pen Grip is Making a Return

Did you know that one of the most important tools for success is a good pencil/pen grip? It increases the speed and fluency of writing. Furthermore, research has shown the greater the quantity of work produced, the better the quality. Many children are taught and master the dynamic tripod grip when they start school. This … Read more

Assessing Your Child’s Handwriting At Home

Mother and daughter doing homework together at table with books and pencils

Parents can play a crucial role in assessing their child’s handwriting, but it can be tricky to distinguish between typical errors and red flags for handwriting issues. In this blog post, we will explore the common misconceptions parents make when assessing handwriting and provide tips on how to avoid them.   Common Handwriting Misconceptions Many … Read more

Making the Most of Early Childhood Education

Group of children drawing and colouring together at a table

The benefits of early childhood education The early years of a child’s life are crucial for their development. During this time, they are learning essential skills and building the foundations that will shape their future. For many children, early childhood education is the key to unlocking their potential. Research has shown that early childhood education … Read more

How Babies Learn to Speak: The Importance of Baby Talk

Baby on colourful play mat holding soft ball surrounded by toys

The late Dr Jusczyk, who conducted extensive research on the relation between speech perception and language acquisition in infants ranging from 6 weeks to 24 months, concluded that babies could even pick out their own name as early as 4 1/2 months old! Additionally, by 9 months old, they are already recognising frequent patterns within … Read more

5 Handy Tips to Help Preschoolers Improve Their Handwriting

Father and son lying on floor practising writing together

School Readiness Starting school is a huge milestone for kids of all ages. It can be a bit daunting, but with the right preparation it can be a smooth transition. One of the most important things kids need to be successful in school is good handwriting skills. In this blog post, we will give you … Read more

Back to School: 5 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Settle Back In

Mother helping daughter with school uniform in hallway before school

Whether it’s after the summer break, half term, Christmas or Easter, getting back into the school routine can feel like a challenge for children and parents alike. A few days of lie-ins and relaxed schedules can make that first morning back feel like a mountain to climb. The good news? A little preparation goes a … Read more

Why the DfE’s decision NOT to join letters is a victory for early handwriting

Discrete Shift in Policy On 1st April 2021, the Department for Education (DfE) made the decision that early years foundation pupils should not be taught cursive writing when they begin writing. It was discretely part of the supporting documents for the validation of the systematic synthetic phonics programmes (SSP). This means that they should not … Read more