Do schools take pen licences away?

[Tuesday588]

DD is in Year 3 and was awarded her pen licence a few weeks ago. She's one of the first in her class to get one so was extremely pleased about this and I feel it has been a good confidence boost for her as she sometimes struggles in other areas of learning.

She came home from school upset today saying that her teacher had pulled her to one side and said that her writing isnt as neat in pen and it was in pencil and if it's the same tomorrow that she will be taking her pen licence away and she will need to go back to writing in pencil.

Does anyone or any teachers know if that is a thing? Do teachers actually take pen licences away once they've been rewarded?

Obviously dd is very upset by this and has gone to bed upset. If the teacher has just said this to get dd to try harder with writing in pen then fine but surely as she's only just started writing in pen it will take her a while to get used to it.

I just wondered if anyone had experience with this ? Thanks!

I was moved between the two several times in school. In the end I just stopped bothering and kept with pencil until I left for secondary

You do realise you actually don't need a licence to write in pen and lots of schools don't even do this rediculous pen licence thing at all. If the teacher thinks her writing has got less near since writing in pen surely it is beat to write in pencil again.

I've worked in primary for 10 years and it would have to take some really scruffy writing to have a pen licence revoked, although we were never quick to hand them out in the first place - the teacher had to get the Head's approval, followed by a certificate. After the summer holidays we would have a couple of weeks of everyone writing in pencil just because the kids would be getting back into the swing of writing on a regular basis again.
I think the teacher is being harsh but at the same time if she does go back to pencil, maybe make DD feel better by getting her some cute pencils/stationary, the Works are full of them :)

I’ve never heard of a pen licence in my life. Is this a thing? What’s the point of it?

Well as a pen license is essentially a made up concept of course they can take it away

However I don't know how she can learn to write in pen if she's not given the opportunity. She can write neatly in pencil so clearly the next stage is developing her skills with a pen

Did I just read that the headteacher has to validate if a child can write with a pen

Pen licences aren’t a real thing. Not a National thing. Not a legal thing.

PEN LICENSE??? Good lord. Learn something new every day!! To be fair it was a good day when we were all allowed to move from pencils to Berol handwriting pens so I do see the excitement. No license required though 😄

Never heard of a pen license either. I’ve three dc and it’s the first I’ve heard of it
How strange

@daisypond

I’ve never heard of a pen licence in my life. Is this a thing? What’s the point of it?

I’ve never heard of it either but I guess it’s like nursery ”graduation” ceremonies. Invented to be cute and boost the children’s self esteem.🤷🏻‍♀️

It was known as 'A License to Quill' in the first school I worked at - a joke which went over most children's heads, but they all called it that, which used to amuse me no end.
And yes, the license could definitely be revoked. Usually the threat of having it removed was sufficient for the child to revertnto their previous level of neatness, however.

Pen licences are such a ridiculous idea. I know they do get removed at my daughter’s school. Bloody stupid.

I have never heard of pen licences either.

They didn't call it a pen licence "in my day" but at junior school in the 1950's we were very proud when we graduated to being able to use a pen ( can't think why as we still had inkwells and scratchy nibs) but if our writing was not up to standard the "privilege" was removed and it was back to pencils. At least it wasn't chalk and slates I'll just climb back in my rocking chair...

Yes the teachers in my daughter’s school frequently threaten to take kids pen licenses away, and sometimes do. Just tell your child to keep working hard on their pen use. It’s not something I’d get involved with.

@RickiTarr

Pen licences aren’t a real thing. Not a National thing. Not a legal thing.

Of course it's not a legal requirement 😂 Some people are so ridiculously literal. It's a bit of motivation for kids to tidy their handwriting, it's a real boost when they get their little certificate. Never heard of it being rescinded, though.

@Scarby9

It was known as 'A License to Quill' in the first school I worked at - a joke which went over most children's heads, but they all called it that, which used to amuse me no end. And yes, the license could definitely be revoked. Usually the threat of having it removed was sufficient for the child to revertnto their previous level of neatness, however.

😂 Is there a whole list of official rules then? Do you issue actual physical licences?

Of course it's not a legal requirement 😂
Some people are so ridiculously literal. It's a bit of motivation for kids to tidy their handwriting, it's a real boost when they get their little certificate.
Never heard of it being rescinded, though.

No I’m not being literal. I’m just wondering how on Earth OP expects us all to answer questions on a non-official, non-widespread , twee thing that no doubt varies from school to school and isn’t used by most schools anyway. Obviously I’m the mad one, though. 😁

Is the pen a proper one with ink cartridges? Because the writing could get messier and smudge with those. One of my DC is left handed and had to contort things so as not to smudge her writing..

My Yr5 just moved school (nearly 10). Last school she was no where near having a pen license. New school she was given a pen on her first day and her writing is a lot neater. Probably because you don't need to press as hard.
Still reverses her letters though.

You really need to work on your irony meter @GreyhoundG1rl

@RickiTarr

*Of course it's not a legal requirement 😂 Some people are so ridiculously literal. It's a bit of motivation for kids to tidy their handwriting, it's a real boost when they get their little certificate. Never heard of it being rescinded, though.*

No I’m not being literal. I’m just wondering how on Earth OP expects us all to answer questions on a non-official, non-widespread , twee thing that no doubt varies from school to school and isn’t used by most schools anyway. Obviously I’m the mad one, though. 😁

It's used in enough schools for most other posters to know what op was talking about. You storming in with a This is Not a Thing is a just a little bit silly.

I never had this in school I’m going to ask ds tomorrow if it’s a thing at his school he’s year 2. Every days a school day on mumsnet I honestly learn so much.

It's used in enough schools for most other posters to know what op was talking about.

Now you’re making your numeracy look wobbly too. Count them. 😂

You storming in with a This is Not a Thing is a just a little bit silly.

Oh go and pick an argument with someone as humourless as yourself. 🙄

@Hm2020

I never had this in school I’m going to ask ds tomorrow if it’s a thing at his school he’s year 2. Every days a school day on mumsnet I honestly learn so much.

It's generally about Year 4.