✏️ Spelling at Springside Primary School
Helping every child become a confident and accurate speller
At Springside Primary School, we believe that every child can become a fluent, confident and competent speller.
We recognise that spelling is an essential part of becoming a successful writer. When children are confident in spelling, they can focus more fully on choosing ambitious vocabulary, constructing sentences and communicating their ideas clearly.
Our spelling curriculum is carefully sequenced from Year 1 to Year 6, building children's knowledge and confidence as they progress through school.
🌟 Our Approach
We have high expectations for spelling and want our children to:
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become confident and accurate spellers;
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understand spelling patterns, rules and strategies;
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develop a wide range of strategies for learning spellings;
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apply their spelling knowledge independently;
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identify and correct their own spelling errors;
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use adventurous and ambitious vocabulary in their writing;
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develop a love of writing and communicate their ideas clearly.
Our spelling teaching is systematic, explicit and carefully planned, with opportunities for children to revisit, practise and apply their learning.
📚 Year 1 – Little Wandle
In Year 1, spelling is taught as an integral part of the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised systematic synthetic phonics programme.
Children develop their understanding of the relationship between phonemes and graphemes and apply this knowledge when spelling words.
During their phonics learning, children are taught to:
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segment words into phonemes;
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identify the phonemes within spoken words;
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select and write the appropriate graphemes;
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apply their knowledge of the alphabetic code;
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practise spelling words containing previously taught graphemes;
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develop increasing confidence and accuracy;
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apply their phonics and spelling knowledge in independent writing.
Spelling is therefore closely integrated with phonics rather than being taught as a separate spelling programme in Year 1.
The Little Wandle programme provides children with regular opportunities to practise and apply their spelling knowledge. Where children need additional support, teachers use assessment information to identify gaps and provide targeted practice and intervention.
👉 For more information about our phonics provision, please visit our [Phonics page].
📖 Years 2–6 – Ready Steady Spell
From Year 2 onwards, we use Ready Steady Spell, a systematic spelling programme which covers the National Curriculum spelling objectives in a cyclical and structured way.
The programme develops children's understanding of:
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spelling patterns and rules;
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phonology – the relationship between sounds and letters;
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morphology – how words are structured;
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Common Exception Words;
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Statutory Word List words;
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strategies for remembering spellings;
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applying spelling knowledge in independent writing.
Children revisit key objectives throughout their time at Springside so that important spelling knowledge is practised and embedded in long-term memory.
🟢 Year 2
Spelling is taught daily for approximately 20 minutes.
Each lesson follows a clear four-part structure:
1. Revisit & Revise
Children revisit previously taught spelling knowledge and strategies.
2. Teach
New spelling patterns, rules, words and strategies are explicitly taught.
3. Practise
Children have opportunities to practise and consolidate their new learning.
4. Apply
Children use their spelling knowledge in words and sentences and apply it to their writing.
Weekly review and assessment help teachers identify areas where children may need additional practice or support.
🔵 Years 3–6
From Years 3–6, spelling is taught three times each week, with regular opportunities to review and consolidate learning.
Lessons follow the same four-part structure:
Revisit & Revise → Teach → Practise → Apply
Children develop their knowledge of spelling rules, patterns and strategies alongside learning the words from the relevant Statutory Word Lists.
As children progress through Key Stage 2, they are increasingly encouraged to take responsibility for their own spelling and editing.
Year 4
Revision opportunities are built into Summer 2, helping children consolidate key spelling knowledge and prepare for the demands of Upper Key Stage 2.
Year 6
Year 6 includes dedicated revision opportunities throughout the year.
During Summer 2, children are supported in preparing for the transition to secondary school. They are encouraged to:
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identify their own common spelling errors;
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use spelling journals;
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apply spelling strategies independently;
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edit and improve their writing;
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take greater responsibility for spelling accuracy.
💚 Ready Steady Spell: Go
Some children may need additional support to secure their spelling knowledge.
Ready Steady Spell: Go provides targeted intervention for children who have been identified through assessment as requiring additional practice or support.
These sessions:
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take place in addition to normal spelling lessons;
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use the same approaches and resources as Ready Steady Spell;
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provide additional repetition and practice;
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include appropriate scaffolding and support;
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may take place individually or in small groups;
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are tailored to identified gaps in children's spelling knowledge.
Our aim is to help every child develop the confidence and independence they need to become a successful speller.
🏠 Supporting Spelling at Home
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting children's spelling development.
We encourage families to:
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read regularly with and to their children;
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talk about interesting and unfamiliar words;
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practise spelling strategies shared by school;
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encourage children to check their own writing;
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celebrate progress and effort;
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encourage children to have a go at unfamiliar words.
We share spelling words and suggested strategies where appropriate so that children can practise effectively at home.
Most importantly, we want children to see spelling as something they can learn and improve, rather than something they either can or cannot do.
🎯 Our Spelling Aim
At Springside Primary School, our aim is for every child to leave us as a confident, independent and accurate speller who can use their spelling knowledge to communicate their ideas effectively.
We want spelling to support—not restrict—children's writing, enabling them to choose ambitious vocabulary, write creatively and communicate with confidence.
Every child. Every word. Every opportunity to learn.