Best pen for scrappy handwriting?

[nailslikeknives]

It has to be fibre tipped to meet school requirements but very fine nibbed (0.4?) to help with neatness.

It's for my son who's going into Y6. His writing is correctly formed, he holds the pen correctly but when he writes with a fibre tip it can be hard to read. With a biro, it's easy to read, but biros aren't allowed.

Perhaps I could ask school to allow a biro, but I'd rather find a fibre tip solution if possible. He already has a wedge cushion to sit on so I'd prefer all his other school equipment to be as standard as possible.

Thanks in advance for your teacher wisdom!

[MrsHamlet]

I'd suggest a fountain pen but it sounds like that might be on the banned list.

[nailslikeknives]

Yes, it's fibre tip or pencil but thank you for your reply

[MrsHamlet]

With my secondary head on, I don't get this at all. I don't really care what they write in as long as I can read it.
Have you tried the berol handwriting pen?

[TeenMinusTests]

Not a teacher.
My DD1 with dyspraxia got on best with a Stabilo Easy pen (we tried loads), my DD2 who also has motor skills issues prefers the Uniball Air. Neither got on well with Berol handwriting pens, I think they damaged the tips by pushing too hard.

[phlebasconsidered]

Biro. In my experience all my poor handwriting kids do best with one. And when i was secondary it made the worst leginle. I too despair about the emphasis on handwriting- legibility should be the only requirement. And speed- there's a lot to write on an A level essay paper!

[nailslikeknives]

Thank you for the replies. The berol handwriting is a fibre tip and too thick unfortunately, it just looks like splodges. I think TeenMinusTests is right, he pushes down on fibre tips too hard.
TMT - I'll have a look at the 2 you suggested, thank you.

Phlebasconsidered - are you primary? Just wondered if you have a persuasive phrase/reason I could give school to let my son use biro

[laselvar]

I'd recommend either the Pelikan graffix or the Stabilo easy.
My Y6 son uses both. His handwriting used to be pretty poor and is so much better now. He's a lefty and has the left handed versions but both pens have right handed ones as well.
He can now produce good handwriting with most pens/pencils now, but much prefers to use these, I think he finds them more comfortable. He has hyper mobility in his wrists, and I think these pens give him a naturally good pen hold which makes writing more comfortable for him.

[laselvar]

Another tip, if you think he is pressing down too hard, is to use mechanical pencils. I've used this in the past for children who force down too hard on the paper - it is too stressful a grip and makes writing more extended pieces hard work for the muscles in the hand and wrist. Mechanical pencils help as they break if you force down too hard - forcing the children into a lighter motion.

[nailslikeknives]

Thank you, I'll have a look at the pelican - I've never heard of it

[nailslikeknives]

Thank you for all the replies.
Just to let you know, we settled on a fine liner with a triangular grip.

The new teacher has already set him helpful handwriting homework and is happy with the pen. So fingers crossed for a legible year