Here at St. Andrew's Church of England Primary School, we use Ready Steady Spell which is a progressive systematic spelling programme from Year 2 to Year 6. We are launching our new approach to the teaching of Spelling in Autumn 2026. 

Please note - information about our new approach to the teaching of Spelling with be shared at 'Meet the Teacher - September 2026'

It covers all National Curriculum expectations progressively for all these Year groups.

It provides full coverage, in a cyclical way, by providing opportunities to reinforce and embed learning systematically and interactively! Furthermore, it contains detailed guidance for effective implementation and supports teaching through resources that allow children to acquire subject skills and knowledge and an understanding of spelling strategies needed for accurate recall.

Furthermore, the beginning of Year 2 lessons incorporate the Year 1 National Curriculum spelling rules and guidance that are not included in phonics teaching.

Year 2

Each week there are 5 Ready Steady Spell lessons. The first 4 lessons teach new spellings. The fifth lesson is an opportunity for children to revise the week’s new learning and learn common exception word(s).

Year 3 to Year 6

In Year 3 to Year 6, there are 3 Ready Steady Spell lessons per week. In the first 2 lessons new spelling rules and guidance and strategies are taught. The third lesson is an opportunity for children to revise the week’s new learning and learn statutory Word List words from the National Curriculum.

Learning Across and Between Years

Ready Steady Spell provides full coverage, in a cyclical way, by providing opportunities to reinforce and embed learning. This means that spelling rules and guidance are taught more than once at St. Andrew's. In turn, this allows our children to acquire subject skills and knowledge and deepen their understanding of spelling strategies needed for accurate recall.

Across the programme, spelling rules and guidance will be Introduced and Reinforced. Depending on their complexity, they may also be Embedded.

How do we timetable spelling at St. Andrew's Church of England Primary School?

Year 2 (launching - Autumn 1, 2026)

Year 3-Year 6 (launching Autumn 1, 2026)

Please note, slight changes may need to take place due to some unavoidable timetabling changes on some occasions – coverage will still take place. Steady Ready Spell: Go will take place for some children, not all.

Home Learning and Spelling Tests

In Ready Steady Spell there is a weekly spelling test. The list of printable spellings is provided towards the end of the week, after the final lesson, and following the explicit teaching of associated rules and strategies.

Children are tested the following week on words that contain objectives previously covered.

See the Home Learning support booklet link below for further information on how to support your child in learning their spellings at home. The strategies in the booklet match the strategies we use at St. Andrew's Church of England Primary School.

See the strategies mat link for the symbols that the children use at school.