How to spell the Year 3 to 6 statutory words
Pick a word to see how it is spelt, the part that catches children out and a tip that makes it stick.
Year 3 and 4 words
Taught in Years 3 and 4, when children are 7 to 9. The Year 3 and 4 list, grouped by pattern
Year 5 and 6 words
Taught in Years 5 and 6, when children are 9 to 11. The Year 5 and 6 list, grouped by pattern
What each page shows
Every word page starts with the correct spelling, with the tricky letters underlined. Then it explains why the word goes wrong, lists the mistakes children really make, and gives a memory tip that fits that word, not a general one.
Each page also splits the word into syllables, uses it in a sentence and links to the other words on the same list that share its pattern, so a child who has learnt one can learn the rest together.
Questions parents ask
Which words are on these pages?
Every word on the two statutory spelling lists in the national curriculum for England: the Year 3 and 4 list and the Year 5 and 6 list. Each list has 100 entries. A few entries cover two or three spellings, such as busy/business, and each spelling has its own page.
What is the best way to learn a tricky spelling?
Find the part that goes wrong, then give it a reason: a smaller word inside, a rule or a memory tip. Then use look, say, cover, write, check a few times over the next week, rather than many times in one go.
Why are some words spelt differently in American English?
Words such as favourite, centre and neighbour are spelt favorite, center and neighbor in the United States. Schools in England teach the British spellings, which are the ones on the statutory lists.
Spelling is one part of the picture
The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.