Spot-on Spellings!

About This Spelling Book

This spelling book is designed to help your child to revisit words from previous DfE spelling lists and words commonly needed in every day writing. Each set contains five words selected from an assessment. They are individual sets that your child needs to practise. There may be phonics-based words as well as ones that are classed as tricky (T) because phonics will not help your child to decode the word.

The Two-Week Practice Approach

Each spelling set is designed to be practised over two weeks. Allowing more time for learning is key to lasting progress. When children encounter the same words multiple times over several days, they are more likely to develop strong recognition and accurate spelling. Even if your child seems to know the words, continued review will reinforce their memory. Regular, spaced practice, instead of a one-off practice, helps new knowledge move from short-term recall to long-term understanding.

Daily Practice Tips

• Keep practice short and positive: just two to three minutes daily is more effective than longer, infrequent sessions.
• Where a word is phonetically decodable, remind your child to sound out each part of the word and identify a pattern.
• Encourage your child to spot the 'tricky part' of a word that doesn't follow the rules and find ways to remember it.
• Try segmenting the word into syllables to help your child remember each part. Write each segmented part in a different colour to draw attention to them.

Supporting Your Child

• Focus on progress and trying hard, rather than only getting every word right.
• Remember that mistakes are part of learning. Don’t ignore these! Looking at what errors are being made will help you to focus on what strategies to use and which parts of a word to tackle next.
• Keep practice fresh and engaging. Turn your spellings into a word search for someone to try out. Make a daft rap using the letters from your trickiest spellings (rhythms often help with memorising). For more ideas to motivate and to encourage positive conversations about inaccuracies, please visit: Spelling through fun active-ities! | Berkswich CE Primary School
• Be patient – respect each other’s learning pace. 

Retaining and applying learning

• Remember: with consistent practice over the two-week period, your child will have the best opportunity to master these spellings and grow in confidence as a speller.
• Can your child spot their words in their reading books or anywhere else? 
• Encourage your child to write these words in a sentence. This will help them to see the vital connection between spelling and writing.
• Try to go back to previous words every now and again. Repeated practice is the key! Your child’s teacher may add words that need a little more practising to any blank sets.

Spellings from these books have been taken from previous spellings that your child has already learnt. Again, please do not worry if some need revisiting from earlier books. This is not unusual and can be part of the learning journey. Visit the pages for these books to access spelling-set handwriting, sentences for writing, tips on individual words and for general support. 

• Flying High Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Reception)
• Forest Friends Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year One)
• Journeying Further Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year Two)
• Sea Adventures Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year Two)
• Digging Deeper Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Additional KS1 rehearsal book)
• Science Spellers Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year Three)
• Out of this World Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year Three/Four)
• Planet Protectors Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Year Four)
• Skatepark Spellers Book | Berkswich CE Primary School (Additional KS2 rehearsal book)

Phonics Mat - Grow the Code!

Using phonics is the best way to support your child's spelling. They will need to draw on learning from Key Stage One when trying words that can be tackled phonetically. Look along the top row to find out what sound is made in each block and the different ways in which it can be made. View the video on the right on the Little Wandle site to hear the whole chart read out.  

While working on polishing their individual spellings in their personalised books, children in Upper Key Stage Two will also be using an online platform, Spelling Frame, to further support their spelling learning. We are using Spelling Frame to help children strengthen and retain understanding of the spelling rules and patterns taught in class. By using Spelling Frame regularly, children can revisit key spelling patterns at their own pace, receive immediate feedback and track their progress over time. This consistent, tailored practice supports long-term retention and builds confidence in applying correct spellings across all areas of their writing. Please click below to access a guide with further information.