What to write with?

Key Stages 1-2 and SATs advice

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Rob Clark
Posts: 1298
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:59 pm

What to write with?

Post by Rob Clark »

Hi,
We've discovered quite by accident today - through a close family friend who is a teacher and also left-handed - that our left-handed daughter writes much more neatly with a rollerball pen than she does with an ink pen.

Her school insists that all children use ink pens and in general, that's fine, but given that her writing is the only area where she isn't certain to get a level 5 in her KS2s - which is important both for setting at her upper shcool next year and for the possibility of taking the 12+ - should we ask the school that she be allowed to use a rollerball so her work appears neater?

Thanks.
Looking for help
Posts: 3767
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:12 am
Location: Berkshire

Post by Looking for help »

Hi Rob,
I think it is worth asking, I'm sure they will agree, if it makes her work look better, that's a good thing, surely ? :?:
LFH
toony
Posts: 111
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:09 pm

Post by toony »

In respect of her KS2 SATs the 'handwriting' aspect is only worth a maximum of 3 marks out of 50 total. Unless her writing is very poor it is likely she would score 2 or 3 for this aspect.
Long writing task = 28 marks
short writing = 12
spelling = 7
handwriting =3

My own daughter's handwriting, which is not great, was scored a 3 last year. My son, who is dyspraxic, scored 2. It is amazing how neatly they can write when it matters!
Rob Clark
Posts: 1298
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:59 pm

Post by Rob Clark »

Thanks for the breakdown, toony. I was aware that handwriting only accounted for a few marks, but that plus her spelling are holding her English back a little (in contrast she has a reading age 3 years ahead of her actual age), so these are the areas we are concentrating on.

LFF - yes, you'd think wouldn't you? As we've found, though, schools don't always have the same agenda as parents. Hopefully, where KS2 is concerned it is in the school's interest for the children to do their best. :wink:
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