Headteacher Katy Brierley confesses that dyslexia caused her to endure rather than enjoy her own school days. But it also gave her a passion for handwriting which she has now translated into an effective whole-school policy for ensuring that all pupils are intensively coached in handwriting skills. Dr Mary Howard of the National Handwriting Association points out that handwriting skills are of particular importance for special educational needs pupils as it's sometimes one of the few means of communication at their disposal. The programme highlights how the head and class teachers at Northowram Primary School, near Halifax, lead a policy based on three main planks. Pupils are taught to write in a cursive script, they are taught in short ten minute blocks daily, and teachers use multi-sensory and other fun techniques to embed the learning.

Video Series: Primary Special Needs
Release Date 2006