End of Year 5 Expectations
Year 5
In Year 5, children are expected to demonstrate a neat, joined, and fluent handwriting style while beginning to develop a personalised touch to their writing. This marks an important stage where handwriting evolves to balance legibility with speed and efficiency. Key expectations include:
- Maintaining neat and legible handwriting, ensuring joined letters flow smoothly and consistently across the page.
- Developing a personal style, allowing for minor adaptations in their handwriting to suit their comfort and writing speed while retaining clarity.
- Writing with increasing fluency and speed, particularly in longer pieces of work, without compromising on neatness or readability.
- Consistently applying their handwriting skills across all subjects, ensuring their writing remains clear and well-presented in a variety of contexts.
By the end of Year 5, handwriting should be a tool that allows the child to express their ideas quickly and confidently while maintaining high standards of presentation.
In this example, the child’s handwriting remains neat, joined, and fluent, but shows signs of personal adaptation that help them write more efficiently. This progression reflects their growing ability to produce extended pieces of writing at speed, while still ensuring legibility and professionalism. This development prepares them for the demands of Year 6 and beyond, where consistent and efficient handwriting is essential.