An Ipad App developed by a Sutton grandmother has won a national award.

Abc Joined up, a handwriting app developed by Mary Coen, a literacy specialist teacher based at St Elphege’s Primary School in Wallington, received Best App for Handwriting in Early Education by iPad For Kids, a specialist app review magazine.

The magazine tested over 500 Apps for children and abc Joined Up was judged as the best handwriting App in Early Education.

Mrs Coen said: "It's very pleasing to have this independent endorsement of my app by reviewers, who have tested it with their own children. Abc Joined Up is based on a method of teaching handwriting that I developed over five years ago.

The beauty of the iPad version is that it enables a child to practise writing letters and words on the iPad or iPhone screen using a finger or stylus and provides immediate feedback and encouragement."

Mrs Coen has over 20 years teaching experience and has worked for ten years in Sutton as a literacy specialist supporting primary schools.

Abc Joined Up on iTunes was launched for children of all ages to help overcome problems in learning joined up handwriting. The App is now used by thousands of parents at home and a growing number of schools in the UK and abroad to help children develop handwriting and phonics skills.