- Penpals for Handwriting is a complete handwriting scheme for 3-11 year-olds, covering attainment targets for the National Literacy Strategy. Teaching letter shapes and joins through stimulating and motivating activities, this scheme leads the way to fast, fluent and legible handwriting. Whole-class teaching via Big Books and OHTs provides an effective focus, from which pupils can gain the confidence for their own practice through finger tracing, pencil tracing and independent writing via Practice Books. From the beginning, the application of Fine and Gross Motor skills plays an integral part in the development of a fluent hand. The teaching methods outlined in Penpals are linked to spelling and can help to improve overall attainment in writing. Year 1 consolidates letter shapes and begins a systematic introduction to joining.