Handwriting is a learnt, physical skill that needs to be taught and practised. This manual shows how to get handwriting right from the outset and to progress successfully. Poor handwriting is a major cause of low self-esteem and can disguise ability. Only thorough assessment can pinpoint the weakness once something has gone wrong. Methods of assessment for pupils in difficulty and techniques to help them are given. The manual: includes photocopiable pages for use in the classroom; introduces a teaching system and provides templates for assessment, monitoring and recording both for the individual and the whole class; offers clever and effective ways of assessing pupil ability and identifying and avoiding problems; offers teaching techniques to use with pre-writing pupils, the beginner writer and the more advanced learner with difficulties; and looks at some of the underlying causes of poor handwriting.