Spelling

At Ravenbank Primary School, we believe that confident spelling is an essential foundation for successful writing. When children can spell with increasing fluency and accuracy, they are better able to focus on choosing ambitious vocabulary, constructing effective sentences and communicating their ideas clearly across the curriculum.

Our aim is for every child to become a fluent, confident and competent speller. We want pupils to understand how words work, develop a range of strategies for learning spellings and, most importantly, apply this knowledge independently in their everyday writing.

To support this, we use Ready Steady Spell, a systematic and structured programme which covers National Curriculum spelling expectations. Children develop their phonological and morphological knowledge progressively as they move through school, regularly revisiting previous learning so that spelling patterns, rules and strategies become securely embedded.

Spelling is explicitly taught and regularly assessed. Weekly spellings and suggested learning strategies are also shared with families so that children can practise at home using approaches they have already been taught in school. Where children require additional support, assessment is used to identify specific difficulties and targeted Ready Steady Spell: Go sessions provide additional repetition, scaffolding and practice.

Our overall goal is simple: to give every child the spelling knowledge and confidence they need to write freely, accurately and successfully.