Our Approach to Spelling

At Rydon, we use HFL Education’s ESSENTIALSPELLING programme – a clear and supportive way of teaching spelling from Year 2 to Year 6. Instead of learning long weekly word lists, children are taught in short, structured lessons that build skills step by step. Each lesson follows Review, Teach, Practise and Apply, so children revisit what they already know, learn something new, practise it, and then use it in real writing. The programme teaches spelling through:

• Phonics (how sounds match to letters),
• Morphology (how words are built, e.g., jump, jumped, jumping), and
• Etymology (where words come from, which helps explain tricky spellings).

Children are encouraged to think about why a word is spelled a certain way, not just remember it for a test. The programme also includes built‑in support for children who find spelling harder, without taking them out of the main lesson. Vocabulary (word meaning) is taught alongside spelling, helping children use new words confidently.

Overall, ESSENTIAL SPELLING helps children understand how words work, so they become confident and independent spellers.

Supporting Spelling at Home

On the Friday before they are taught, a word list is sent home so children can start to practice using these words.  The children won’t be tested on these words.

This guide offers simple, optional ways to support your child with their spellings at home. There is no pressure to complete everything — these are just friendly ideas to keep spelling calm and enjoyable.

1. Focus on the Spelling Pattern

Talk about the pattern or rule rather than memorising every word. You might ask:

– “What do these words have in common?”

– “Are any of the spellings surprising or tricky?”

– “Can you spot this pattern in other words around the house?”

2. Quick 5-Minute Practice Ideas

Short bursts of practice often work best. Here are some simple, low-pressure activities:

– Look–Cover–Write–Check: Look at the word, cover it, write it, then check.

– Sorting words into groups by pattern or difficulty.

– Rainbow writing: Write the word in different colours to help notice its shape.

– Oral spelling: Say the word aloud and help your child spell it verbally.

3. Spot Words in Real Life

Help your child notice spellings in books, signs, labels or shopping lists. This shows spelling is useful and all around us.

4. Make It Fun

Keeping spelling playful helps children stay motivated. You could try:

– Writing words with chalk, magnets or foam.

– Building words using Lego pieces or letter tiles.

– Turning spellings into a small matching game or treasure hunt.

5. Encourage Rather Than Pressure

Children learn spelling at different speeds. Gentle encouragement and noticing their effort helps build confidence. Mistakes are part of learning.  Whether they learn one word or several, praise their effort.