Spelling
"Of course words are magic. That's why they call it spelling."
Brian Holguin
Intent
All pupils should be able to confidently communicate their knowledge, ideas and emotions through their writing. We want all pupils, regardless of ability, to develop a wide vocabulary, a solid understanding of grammar and be able to apply spelling rules to spell new words. We want them to write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences. The belief of all staff at Wainscott is that every child is expected to take pride in the presentation of their work, in part by developing a fluent, joined, handwriting style by the time they move to secondary school.
Whole School Spelling Sequence
At Wainscott Primary School we firmly believe that good spelling is an essential skill which allows the children to communicate their understanding in all curriculum subjects. In order for pupils to develop into effective and confident writers, they need to develop and use a range of effective spelling strategies. By providing the children with a range of strategies we equip them with the independence to attempt spellings before asking for adult help. We particularly want the children to develop a love of language and the confidence to spell more challenging and ambitious words. In allowing them opportunities to develop a rich and exciting vocabulary, we are enabling them to become effective communicators and help build their future. Below are the statutory National Curriculum lists of words your child will be expected to spell.
Year 1 & 2 Common Exception words
Year 3 & 4 Word List
Year 5 & 6 Word List
Implementation
In KS2, teachers use the CUSP spelling curriculum to provide in-depth, explicit instruction of the patterns of spelling. Additionally, they learn the etymology and morphology of words. CUSP spelling is both teacher facing and pupil facing, building consistency in how spelling is taught across the school and ensuring that all teachers have the deep subject knowledge required to teach the statutory content of the National Curriculum for spelling. CUSP spelling is a balanced approach, drawing together knowledge about phonics and vocabulary and pairing this with pattern seeking and reasoning. This programme emulates the Essential Letters and Sounds approach in EYFS and Key Stage 1. Children will be given words according to their developmental needs, so the amount and level of difficulty will vary. Please see below a leaflet to help you with supporting your child in learning their spellings at home.