Spellings

Starting from Year 1, we empower our students with essential spelling skills through our comprehensive spelling booklets. Each half term, children receive a booklet containing up to 15 carefully selected spellings to master.

Our approach is guided by the National Curriculum objectives, with each week focusing on a specific spelling rule. This structured method aims to support children memorising spellings, and also develops students' ability to recognise patterns and apply spelling rules across various contexts.

Moreover, the words from these booklets are integrated into our handwriting lessons, ensuring that students encounter and practice these essential vocabulary terms regularly. To support long-term retention, spellings are strategically divided into 10 new words and a selection of review words from previous weeks. 

In Year 1, spellings are carefully ordered to mirror the sounds that children are learning in the RWI programme. There may be times when teachers identify certain sounds that need reviewing, and therefore may direct alternative spellings on some weeks, to ensure that they are adapting to the needs of the children in that year group. 

Here are some helpful tips to support your child's spelling:

• Practice little and often: Encourage your child to practice spelling regularly, ideally every day. This consistent effort will help them improve over time. Avoid learning all spellings at once. Focus on a few each day and re-visit them. 

• Learn the rules: Familiarise yourself and your child with common spelling rules and patterns. Understanding these rules makes spelling much easier.

• Use tricks: Help your child create mnemonic devices or memory tricks to remember tricky words. Funny phrases or memorable images can make learning more fun and effective.

• Break words: Teach children to break down complex words into smaller parts or syllables. By focusing on these smaller components, spelling becomes more manageable. (Think how most of us say Wednesday when we write it down "Wed - nes - day")

• Use words: Encourage children to use spelling words in sentences or stories. This contextual learning helps reinforce understanding of how words are used correctly.