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Spelling rules and mastery

How we show how well your child knows each spelling rule, from first meeting it to using it in their own writing.

Overview

Every word your child practises tests one or more spelling rules, such as "-tion at the end of a word" or "ai in the middle of a word". For each rule we show one of four steps: Started, Practised, Secure and Using it. The step moves up when there is enough evidence, and it is worked out again every night.

Who this is for

Parents

Understand what "Secure" and "Nearly there" mean, and what to do next for each rule.

Teachers and tutors

Know what evidence sits behind each step before you read a pupil's progress or plan a week.

Families outside England

The steps mean the same in every country. Only the Curriculum tab's year headings change, see Curriculum by country.

How a rule moves up

  1. StartedThey have met words that use the rule.
  2. PractisedRight in practice, on different words.
  3. SecureWritten from memory, with no help, more than once.
  4. Using itSpelled right and used well in their own writing.

The four steps, and what each one needs

Every step looks at recent work since the last mistake on that rule. Older work still shows in the word lists, it just does not hold a rule up.

Step 1

Started

Your child has practised at least one word that uses this rule. Nothing more is needed.

Step 2

Practised

Spelled right on two different words with the rule, in the last six weeks, with no mistake on the rule in that time. Typing, Say it and writing all count. On the Curriculum tab this shows as Nearly there.

Step 3

Secure

Three different words with the rule written from memory with no help, on screen in Write it or on paper, on at least two different days. The last one in the past three weeks, no mistake on the rule in the past six weeks, and at least three weeks of practice in the app.

Step 4

Using it

The rule is Secure, and two of its words were spelled right from memory in a paragraph your child wrote, and you marked them as making sense. See marking a paragraph.

Which ways of answering count, and why Pick it and games do not move a rule: Spelling modes.

Mistakes and refreshers

A mistake on the rule

Writing "stashun" or "stasion" for station is a mistake on the -tion rule, so that rule starts counting again from there.

A mistake somewhere else

Writing "sation" leaves out a letter near the start, but the -tion ending is right, so it does not count against the -tion rule.

Time for a refresher

A Secure rule with no writing for a few weeks, or with a new mistake, asks for a refresher. Nothing is taken away, and a few words written from memory bring it back.

What each goal aims at

You choose a practice goal for each child in their settings, under How they practise. The goal decides which step the week works towards. The steps themselves never change.

Aims at Practised

Build confidence

Getting words right in practice is the goal. Good for a child who has lost confidence.

Aims at Secure

Keep it balanced

Written from memory, with no help. This is the usual goal.

Aims at Using it

More stretch

Secure first, then a paragraph that uses the words. Marking a paragraph needs you to be signed in; without it, this goal aims at Secure.

What Secure means, and what it does not

Secure means they can spell it unaided. It doesn't say which year expects it.

A Year 2 child can be Secure on a Year 5 rule, and a Year 5 child can still be Started on a Year 2 one. Which rules each year group is expected to know is shown separately, on the Curriculum tab, and depends on the English your child's school uses. Secure is about evidence, not age.

Where to see it, step by step

1. Open their reports. On your child's card, tap 📊 Reports and choose the Curriculum tab.
2. Read the steps. Each rule shows Started, Nearly there, Secure or Using it. Tap a rule to see its words and what is left to do.
3. See this week's aim. On the learning plan page, the Working towards card names the rule that is closest to its next step.
4. Take the next step. Tap the card's button. It starts the right practice, such as Write it with no help, a paper test, or Mark a paragraph.

Questions

My child gets these words right every time. Why is the rule not Secure?

Secure needs writing from memory with no help, on screen in Write it or on paper. Typing, Say it and answers given after help can take a rule to Practised, never Secure. Try Write it with help switched off, a dictation test or a paragraph written from memory.

Does Secure mean they are working at the expected level for their year?

No. Secure means they can spell it unaided. It doesn't say which year expects it. Which rules a year group is expected to know is shown separately, on the Curriculum tab.

Why has a Secure rule changed to Time for a refresher?

A rule stays Secure only while there is recent unaided writing and no new mistake on it. After a few weeks without writing, or after a mistake on that rule, it asks for a refresher. Nothing is taken away. A few more words written from memory bring it back.

How does a rule reach Using it?

Once a rule is Secure, your child writes a few sentences that use some of its words, from memory. You mark the paragraph from the Paper writing card on their child card. Two words from the rule, spelled right and marked as making sense, take it to Using it.

Do games and Pick it count?

No. Pick it shows in each word's right and wrong count, and games are kept separately as game activity, but neither moves a spelling rule. Choosing the right spelling is easier than producing it.

Troubleshooting

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Key takeaways