Pre-cursive handwriting worksheets (UK)

What this tool does

Most English primary schools teach letters unjoined first and start joining in Year 2, when the national curriculum expects children to begin using the diagonal and horizontal strokes needed to join. This page opens with unjoined letters modelled on the style taught in English schools, on A4. Schools follow different schemes, so compare a few letters with yours. Each line you type becomes one practice block: Trace prints every row in light grey, Trace + write gives one grey row and then empty rows, and Copy gives one dark model row to copy from. Long lines wrap by whole words, a block never splits across pages, and the preview is the exact sheet that prints.

How to use it

1. 1
   Type your words

   One line per practice block: a spelling list, a sentence, or a row of letters. The presets fill in the alphabet, a-z, 0-20 or the days of the week.

2. 2
   Choose the support

   Trace for first attempts, Trace + write for most practice, Copy once children can manage on their own.

3. 3
   Print at actual size

   Choose Actual size or 100% in the print dialog so the line height stays exactly as set.

FAQ

Does this match Letter-join, Nelson or Penpals?

Not exactly. Each scheme has its own letter shapes; these come from Playwrite GB S, an open-licence font designed from the general English school model. It suits everyday practice; for scheme-specific assessment use your scheme's own materials.

How do I move to joined handwriting?

Switch on Join the letters, or use the UK joined page, whose letters have lead-in strokes.

Is anything I type uploaded?

No. The sheet is drawn in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.

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