Feature

Starting out

Growing

Secure

Stretching

Letter formation

Some letters are hard to recognise or need careful correction.

Most letters are recognisable; I am practising tricky shapes or starting points.

Letters are clear and correctly formed most of the time.

Letters are clear, carefully formed and consistent throughout.

Size and shape

Letter sizes or shapes change often, making words tricky to read.

Some letters have a similar size and shape.

Most letters have a steady size and shape.

Letter size and shape stay steady and make the writing easy to read.

Spacing

Letters or words run together or have very large gaps.

I leave some clear spaces between words.

Letters sit comfortably together and words have clear spaces.

Spacing is even and helps every word stand out clearly.

Line alignment

Writing often drifts above or below the line.

Some writing sits on the line; I am practising keeping it there.

Writing sits on the line most of the time.

Writing sits neatly on the line all the way through.

Fluency and stamina

I need frequent pauses to form letters or continue.

I can write several words at a steady pace.

I can keep a steady pace for the whole message.

I keep a comfortable pace and my handwriting stays readable to the end.

Presentation

My page is hard to read or has many distracting marks.

My work is mostly neat, with a few marks or corrections.

My work is neat and easy to read.

My work is especially tidy and carefully presented.