English: Spelling
Writing Intent Statement
By the time our pupils leave Year 6, they will be confident, purposeful and effective writers who can communicate clearly for a range of audiences and purposes. They will write across a range of genres, selecting appropriate form, structure and language. Pupils will demonstrate secure transcription skills, including spelling (phonics, morphology and etymology), handwriting, punctuation and grammar, and will use ambitious vocabulary and cohesive sentence structures to create impact.
Through a clear writing process of planning, drafting, evaluating and editing, pupils will develop stamina, accuracy and independence. They will draw on reading, speaking and high-quality models to refine their work and take pride in presentation. By the end of Year 6, our pupils will see themselves as writers—equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to communicate effectively in secondary education and beyond.
Policy
The policy for this subject can be found on our main policy section of the website.
National Curriculum
Useful Websites
Content coming.
Subject Progression Documents
How can I help my child with this subject?
You do not need to be a spelling expert to help your child at home. Short, regular practice and encouragement make the biggest difference.
Here are some simple ways you can support your child’s spelling development.
Practise little and often
Encourage your child to use Spelling Shed regularly. Short bursts of practice help children remember spelling patterns more effectively than long sessions.
Talk about sounds in words
Ask your child what sounds they can hear in a word and how those sounds are written.
For example:
night → n – igh – t
jumping → jump – ing
This helps children link sounds and letters, which supports both spelling and reading.
Break words into parts
Children are taught to look for:
sounds
syllables
prefixes and suffixes
root words
For example:
unhelpful → un + help + ful
running → run + ning
Breaking words into parts makes spelling easier to understand and remember.
Encourage your child to spot spelling patterns
Spelling at school focuses on recognising patterns rather than memorising lists of words. Help your child notice patterns they already know and apply them to new words.
For example:
light
night
bright
Talk about word meanings
Understanding what a word means helps children remember how it is spelled. If your child learns a new word, talk about what it means and whether they know any similar words.
Encourage writing at home
Children improve their spelling when they write regularly. This could include:
shopping lists
short notes
stories
labels
messages or cards
Perfect spelling is not expected every time — practising is what matters most.
Praise effort and strategies
When your child tries a spelling strategy such as sounding out a word or breaking it into parts, praise their effort. Confidence helps children become more independent spellers.
A helpful reminder
Spelling develops over time. Children move from sounding out words to recognising patterns and understanding how words are built. With support from home and school working together, children grow into confident readers and writers.