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Children's handwriting difficulties

Find out how we can help

Good handwriting is an essential life skill, and the building block for success at school

A child struggling with handwriting may soon become frustrated and lose motivation. Proactive, early action ensures that their difficulties are addressed quickly and minimises the impact on their progress at school.

We regularly assist children with handwriting difficulties and have developed our own programme which can be delivered at home and/or school. And when we help a child with their handwriting, we typically observe improvements in other areas of development too, including their academic progress and behaviour.

How OT's help

Whether your child's school has identified that their handwriting is falling behind that of their peers, or you have noticed such difficulties yourself, we can help. Parents contact us for a variety of reasons related to handwriting, but some of the most common difficulties to which it may contribute include:

  • Difficulty remembering how to form letters or in copying from a book or whiteboard
  • Poor spacing and positioning of letters and words
  • Discomfort in gripping a pencil for any length of time
  • Weak fine motor skills, hand strength and dexterity
  • An unwillingness to complete written homework
  • Difficulties concentrating, or poor behavior in the classroom that is less evident in the playground
  • Excessive tiredness after short periods of writing

Our assessment process allows a specialist occupational therapist to identify the nature of your child's difficulties with handwriting, and the reasons for them. Once identified, we can work with you and your child to put in place a plan to address them.

Packages of care

We are flexible around the needs of your child and family and have a variety of handwriting treatment packages to ensure we provide the right solution for you. All of our interventions are oriented towards ensuring that you and your child see measurable improvements.

This might include one or more of the following:

  • An eight-week block of one-to-one bespoke handwriting treatment sessions, delivered to your child at home or school, after which we will review and plan the next steps with you
  • An intensive block of treatment delivered over the holidays - this is popular with overseas families, or those with limited weekend or after-school capacity in term time
  • A home and school programme providing practical, everyday techniques, with advice and support to ensure that the approach is consistent throughout your child's day
  • Attendance at a handwriting group at weekends or over the holidays

Common areas we work on

Through our assessment we will identify the specific areas of handwriting that your child is struggling with, and the source of these difficulties, allowing us to plan a targeted treatment programme.

Some of the most common areas that we would expect to be working on include:

  • Developing a mature pencil grip
  • Assuming and maintaining an effective seating posture
  • Correct letter formation
  • Development of pre-writing and copying skills
  • Activities to increase core and shoulder stability
  • Fine motor skills, hand strength and dexterity
  • Organisation and presentation of work on the page
  • Working with parents and schools to ensure that the right approaches to handwriting continue even when the OT is not present

Schools, LEAs and businesses

Is your organisation looking for professional OT services?

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Common conditions we help with

Find out more about how our OT’s can help by visiting our pages dedicated to specific conditions associated with handwriting difficulties.

Why The OT Practice

We recognise the importance of knowing that you and your child are in safe hands. That is why, when you first make contact with us, you will straightaway be able to explain your concerns to a member of our client management team who will be able to provide relevant information about our services, answer any questions you may have and provide guidance on next steps. This dedicated paediatric team will then remain in charge of your case through any subsequent assessment and treatment we provide.

Other reasons to rely on The OT Practice include:

  • We visit you and your child at home or school at a time convenient for you, with no clinics or waiting lists, offering after-school and weekend appointments where necessary
  • We devise home and school-based treatment plans to ensure that our assessment and advice is relevant to each child’s unique environment
  • Our nationwide network of registered children’s occupational therapists allows us to find you the right local therapist
  • Intensive treatment available during the school holidays
  • We believe our role is to equip you and your child to become as autonomous as possible – ultimately independent of, and not dependent upon, the help we provide

Services for businesses, organisations and the public sector

Schools

Delivering individual or group therapy for children, or advice and training to up-skill members of staff.

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Local education authorities

Occupational therapy provision at home or school as recommended in an EHCP or Statement on behalf of LEA's.

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Healthcare concierge

Assessment and treatment services for clients in their own homes both in the UK and internationally.

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Next steps

Initial enquiry

During your initial call to us you can discuss your concerns with a member of our paediatric client management team, who will be able to understand what your child's difficulties are, provide information and advice on our services and identify the right OT from our team.

Quote

If therapist input is recommended, we will send you a detailed quote via email or in writing explaining what, after a full assessment, we propose and how much it would cost, as well as rates for further work that might be recommended in the future.

Referral

Once you have had time to consider the options and costs, and if you would like to go ahead, the next step would be to fill in our online referral form. In the meantime, if you have further concerns or questions then our client manager will be happy to discuss them with you.

Assessment

Our therapist will then contact you within 24 hours to arrange an assessment visit at home or school, a mixture of formal and observational methods - as well as conversation with yourself, your child and their school - after which you will receive a comprehensive written report.

Advice

The report will include a clear record of our findings and recommendations, together with practical advice on how to help your child. Where additional involvement is required, we will follow up the report with a detailed quotation so that you have all the information needed to make an informed decision.

As Private Occupational Therapists our aim is to provide choices and guidance to help you decide what the best options are for you

A few of our handwriting specialists

Meet a selection of our occupational therapists who specialise in helping children with hand writing difficulties

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Amanda

Hampshire, South of England

Based in Hampshire, Amanda is an experienced Paediatric OT helping children and their families with a wide range of needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Rose

Bedfordshire

Rose conducts assessments with clients, providing intervention to improve their safety and independence within their home environment.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Further qualifications

BIA

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments

Dawn

Cornwall, West and South West of England

Dawn is an OT based in Cornwall, providing expert assessments and therapy for both adult and paediatric clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Cornwall, Devon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, The Listening Programme

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Vimbai

Bedfordshire, South East of England

Vimbai is a Paediatric OT based in Bedford, providing expert therapy for children across London and the South East.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Lorna

Shropshire, West Midlands

Lorna is a Paediatric OT located in Shropshire, supporting with sensory and motor needs for clients across the West Midlands.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Powys, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Counselling, Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Routine planning, Financial management, Daily living skills, Community access, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation

Chia-Chien

London - South, Surrey

Chia is an occupational therapist fluent in Mandarin who specialises in paediatrics and neurology.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey, London - South

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Planning & execution, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Splinting, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability, TBI

Terri

Coventry, West Midlands

Working in the Midlands Terri is a highly skilled OT specialising in paediatrics, sensory integration, behavior management, and mental health.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Behaviour management, Anxiety management & relaxation, Mental Health

Sue

Gloucestershire, West and South West of England

As an OT with nearly 40 years of experience, Sue is an expert in paediatrics; vocational and functional rehabilitation.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Wales, Avon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Fatigue management, Pain management, Motivational issues, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Sarah

Swindon, Wiltshire

Based in Swindon, Sarah is a Paediatric OT visiting children in a home or school setting across the South-West.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West and South West of England, Berkshire, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Swindon

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Makaton, Learning disability

Amy

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Specialising in paediatrics and sensory integration, OT Amy possesses expertise in fine and gross motor skills.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Sheffield

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Planning & execution

Jo

London

Jo is a paediatric physiotherapist providing expert assessments and treatment for children across London and the home counties.

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Profession

Physiotherapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Gross motor skills, School Based Therapy/Support

Claire

Hertfordshire, East Anglia

Trained in advanced handwriting and sensory integration techniques, Claire is an experienced Paediatric OT helping children across the South East.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

East Anglia, South East of England, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London - Central, London - North

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Vocational Rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Counselling, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment

Morven

Edinburgh, East Lothian

Morven has over 30 years' experience as an OT in paediatric and adult hand therapy, neuro rehabilitation and more.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh (City of), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow (City of), Midlothian, Perthshire and Kinross, Stirling, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Hand Therapy, Housing and Equipment, Moving and Handling, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Train the trainer

Specialist skills

DFG Assessments, Routine planning, Daily living skills, Community access, Fine motor skills, Self care, Social integration, Anxiety management & relaxation

Jo

London - South, Surrey

With over 10 years of experience, Paediatric Occupational Therapist Jo provides expert assessment, advice, and treatment across London and Surrey.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Surrey, London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Mental Health

Tina

Glasgow, East Renfrewshire

Tina is a Paediatric OT specialising in Sensory Integration. She is based in Glasgow and visits children across Scotland.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow (City of), Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, Glasgow

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, CO-OP Practitioner

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support

Nikki

Renfrewshire, Scotland

Based in Renfrewshire, Nikki is a highly skilled Paediatric OT with over 25 years’ experience.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Scotland, Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Glasgow (City of), North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Lothian, Glasgow, Edinburgh

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Stefanie

Southampton, Hampshire

Trained in Sensory Integration techniques, Paediatric Occupational Therapist Stefanie helps families by treating children across Hampshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South of England, Hampshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Esther

London

Paediatric Occupational Therapist Esther works in London.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Robyn

London - East, London

Occupational Therapist Robyn is a Paediatrics specialist working in London (Bow, Mile End, Stratford, Bethnal Green).

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London , London - Central, London - North, London - South, London - East, London - West

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration, Sensory Attachment Therapy

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Behaviour management, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability

Janet

London - South, Kent

Janet is an expert Occupational Therapist specialising in paediatrics and neurological rehabilitation, she works with children at home and school.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, South East of England, Kent, London - Central, London - South, London - East

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation, Neurological rehabilitation

Further qualifications

Therapeutic listening

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Balance, Co-ordination, Self care, Social integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Natasha

London - Central, Essex

Natasha is a highly skilled occupational therapist specialising in paediatrics and sensory integration.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

London, Essex

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

Sensory Integration

Specialist skills

Sensory integration

Katie

Gloucestershire, West and South West of England

Based in Tewkesbury, Katie is a specialist Paediatric OT delivering expert interventions across Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, West and South West of England, Herefordshire, Worcestershire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment

Specialist skills

Routine planning, Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support, Learning disability

Victoria

Durham, North East England

Specialising in Paediatrics, Victoria is a highly skilled OT based in Durham in North East England.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England, Durham, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, School Based Therapy/Support

Sian

Birmingham, West Midlands

Sian's specialist areas include learning disability, sensory approaches and paediatrics.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, Worcestershire, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Functional rehabilitation

Further qualifications

AMPS

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Sensory integration, School Based Therapy/Support, Anxiety management & relaxation, Sensory attachment intervention, Learning disability

Lisa

Derby, Derbyshire

Based in Derbyshire, Lisa works across the North of England supporting adults and children with Housing & Equipment needs.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, North East England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, West and South West of England, East Anglia, London, South of England, South East of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, Derbyshire

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Moving and Handling

Maire

Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Maire is an experienced and knowledgeable Paediatric OT who supports children of all ages across Northern Ireland.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

Northern Ireland

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Further qualifications

BOBATH

Specialist skills

Sensory integration, Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Rachel

Shropshire, West Midlands

Based in Shrewsbury, Rachel is an experienced Paediatric OT offering assessments and care to children at home and school.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North West England, West Midlands, Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Powys, Wrexham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Wolverhampton

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Sylwia

Surrey, South of England

Sylwia works in Surrey delivering Paediatric services and is familiar with a variety of conditions.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

South East of England, Surrey

Specialisms

Paediatrics

Specialist skills

Daily living skills

Jessica

Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

Jess supports children and adults with functional rehabilitation, equipment adaptations, moving and handling, and complex paediatrics clients.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

North East England

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management, Functional rehabilitation, Moving and Handling

Specialist skills

Motivational interviewing, Pain management

Emma

Warwickshire, West Midlands

Emma is an experienced Paediatric Occupational Therapist providing specialised care to children across the Midlands in various settings.

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Profession

Occupational Therapy

Regions covered

West Midlands, East Midlands, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Derby

Specialisms

Paediatrics, Housing and Equipment, Seating and Postural management

Specialist skills

Daily living skills, Fine motor skills, Handwriting assessment & treatment, Visual perception, Co-ordination, Self care, Postural management, School Based Therapy/Support

Client feedback

Further reading

Our Experts' Blog

Addressing Handwriting Challenges in School-Aged Children

Occupational therapists are well-trained for analysing contributing factors impacting handwriting development and creating bespoke interventions and support plans for a child when required. In this article we look at the challenges and explore some of the solutions.

Read more

Interested in Private Practice

Pocket Guide to Fine Motor Development in Early Years

Our Clinical Lead Emma shares with the paediatric OT community a helpful check list for fine motor skill development in 2-5 year olds. This provides useful guidance and example activity ideas that paediatric OTs can use to when observing children interacting with their environment.

Read more