Spellings

In the Autumn Term, children are taught spellings as part of their daily phonics lessons. Each day, we focus on a specific sound and practice reading and writing words that contain that sound. The children also learn and practice a tricky word and use the new sound within a sentence. (See below for the words taught in class)

During the Spring Term, we continue to develop children's spelling skills within their writing. Teachers identify keywords that need improvement and support children to correct these in the moment, helping them to become more independent and accurate spellers. In Year 1, children are encouraged to make phonetically plausible attempts at unfamiliar words. We do not send home weekly spelling lists or carry out spelling tests. Instead, children practice and apply their spelling knowledge continuously through writing across the curriculum. Research suggests that learning spellings in context, rather than through isolated tests, leads to better long-term retention and supports children in applying their spelling skills effectively in real writing situations.

In the Summer Term, we begin introducing children to the strategy Look, Cover, Write, check to help them learn and remember tricky words. This approach encourages children to carefully observe a word, practice writing it from memory, and then check their accuracy. It supports both spelling development and independence. Research shows that regular active recall and handwriting practice help to strengthen memory and improve spelling accuracy.

If you’d like to practise spelling at home, you can explore fun and creative ways to reinforce what your child is learning. Below are a few ideas. 

• Practise tricky words a little and often

           Use the Look, Write, Cover, Check method we use in school. Short, regular practice (5–10 minutes) is far more effective               than longer sessions.

• Encourage writing in everyday situations
  Ask your child to write shopping lists, labels, cards, or little notes. This helps them apply spelling in meaningful contexts.

• Talk about sounds and patterns
  When spelling words, encourage your child to say the sounds aloud and spot familiar phonics patterns (e.g. ai, ee, igh).

• Focus on tricky parts of words
  Help your child notice the parts of words that are harder to remember and practise those specifically.

• Read regularly together
  Reading helps children see correct spelling patterns and builds familiarity with common words.

• Keep it fun and interactive
  Use games such as rainbow writing, magnetic letters, chalk writing, or spelling words with actions to keep children engaged.

• Praise effort and independence
  Encourage your child to “have a go” at spelling when writing, even if it’s not perfect—this builds confidence and resilience.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home!