Spelling at Runcorn All Saints CE Primary School
Ready Steady Spell
We believe that all our children can become fluent, confident and competent spellers. We encourage our pupils to think and write creatively, be adventurous with their use of language and to write with clear purpose and for pleasure. In order for these aims to be realised, it is essential that our pupils learn the knowledge and skills to spell accurately. We want our pupils to be equipped with the knowledge and range of strategies for learning spelling and to be able to apply their strategies when spelling words in their writing.
To ensure this happens we teach using Ready Steady Spell. This is a systematic spelling programme which covers all the National Curriculum objectives in a cyclical way.
Progression in Spelling
The progression document systematically develops children’s understanding of morphological and phonological spelling knowledge and rules, as appropriate, and builds upon previous learning in an incremental manner as they move through school. Children are also taught a range of engaging and interactive strategies which can be used to support recall of spellings and moving spellings into the Long Term Working Memory. Ready Steady Spell also supports in transition into Y6 through the use of spelling journals, children identifying own misspelling and the teaching of editing skills etc in Year 6 term 2.
We have a skilled English Leader Team in our school who is responsible for Ready Steady Spell, monitoring and supporting the practice and ensuring the high quality teaching of the programme.
Spelling in Year 2
Daily Lessons
Spelling is taught daily, for 20 mins. We begin this the first week of term.
Built into the programme is a review session every Friday, alongside regular review and assessment weeks, so that we have a clear understanding of where our children are at and what further teaching they may need to allow them early success.
The daily sessions include a clear 4 part lesson, Revisit/Revise, Teach, Practise and Apply and cover CEW’s, strategies to support remembering the spellings, teaching of rules where appropriate and application into writing.
We follow the Ready Steady Spell progression document through Year 2 which covers all the National Curriculum (2014) expectations and clearly sets out what is to be taught and when.
The objectives are returned to within and across year group three times to ensure that spellings are embedded.
We have a weekly spelling test. This is in addition to the lesson. The spellings are set out within the programme and are based upon what has already been taught and CEW’s for the week. Children will not be asked to spell word they have not previously been taught and exposed to.
We send home parent sheets weekly which provide the words for the spelling tests and the strategies that have been suggested to support their learning. These will be discussed, explained and shared with parents so that home school links can be developed and so that parents are clear on the best ways to support their child(ren) in embedding spellings.
Spelling in Years 3 through to 6
Lessons
Spelling is taught 3 times per week. This begins in the first week of the Autumn term.
Built into the programme is a review session every Friday, alongside regular review and assessment weeks, so that we have a clear understanding of where our children are at and what further teaching they may need to allow them early success.
The daily sessions include a clear 4 part lesson, Revisit/Revise, Teach, Practise and Apply and cover Statutory Word List words, strategies to support remembering the spellings, teaching of rules where appropriate and application into writing.
In summer 2 for Year 4, and Spring 1 and 2 and Summer 1 terms for Year 6, revision weeks are built into Ready Steady Spell which link directly to the end of KS2 content domains.
In Year 6 Summer 2 term Ready Steady Spell provides support for transition and children identifying their own misspellings, using spelling journals, editing writing etc.
We follow the Ready Steady Spell progression document through Years 3 - 6 which covers all the National Curriculum (2014) expectations and clearly sets out what is to be taught and when.
The objectives are returned to within and across year group three times to ensure that spellings are embedded
We have a weekly spelling test at the end of each week. This is in addition to the lesson. The spellings are set out within the programme and are based upon what has already been taught and Statutory Word List Words for the week. Children will not be asked to spell word they have not previously been taught and exposed to.
We send home parent sheets weekly which provide the words for the spelling tests and the strategies that have been suggested to support their learning. These will be discussed, explained and shared with parents so that home school links can be developed and so that parents are clear on the best ways to support their child(ren) in embedding spellings.