OUR KINGSTON SPELLING AND VOCABULARY CURRICULUM
We Are Spelling and Vocabulary Champions!
HOW WE GET OUR CHILDREN TO BE ACCURATE SPELLERS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF VOCABULARY.
Spelling and Covabulary Statement of Intent
We understand how important it is for our pupils to leave Kingston as confident, accurate spellers who can use a range of strategies to spell new and unfamiliar words. We also understand how important it is for children to be surrounded by rich vocabulary in order to develop their spelling knowledge. We have therefore put together a carefully crafted curriculum to ensure that the spelling and vocabulary journey our pupils take with us is a successful one and prepares them for the next stage in their education.
We believe in:
- Expanding vocabulary improves spelling.
- Expanding vocabulary improves comprehension and understanding of what is read.
- Spelling improves communication. By following the same rules for spelling words, we can understand more texts we read.
- Great spelling improves writing and focuses the reader on their content
- Great spelling improves life chances such as university applications, covering letters and job applications.
The curriculum for each year group contains:
- The basic knowledge and skills our children must acquire throughout the year
- The spelling patterns and words taught throughout the year
- An importance of vocabulary in all curriculum subjects
- The expected milestones for spelling at each year
- A list of non-negotiables for teaching spelling and vocabulary
Implementation of our spelling and vocabulary curriculum
Whole School
- We have a thorough programme of phonic teaching in place to ensure that our pupils know all of the essential phonic knowledge they will need to become fluent spellers.
- We have a Specialist Leader in Education with a specialism in phonics who oversees the teaching of phonics across the school.
- We have created our own picture-sound correspondence scheme called ‘Pixead’ to embed the teaching of phonics across all key stages. Pixead is used to develop spelling as well as reading.
- We have designed an intense phonic intervention plan for any junior pupils who haven’t consolidated their phonic knowledge in the infants.
- There is explicit teaching of spellings throughout the school week and across all subjects.
- The classroom environments are vocabulary rich.
- Each year group introduce a new word everyday ‘through word of the day display’ and work is covered around these word.
- We have purchased Spelling Shed.
- Weekly spelling tests take place.
- A school spelling bee takes place once a year.
- Use of retrieval activities deepens the knowledge of vocabulary
Knowledge Organisers
At Kingston, spelling and vocabulary has been carefully designed for progression through each year group. We have designed knowledge organisers for each year group to show the year group expectations.
Foundation Stage
Year One
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 1 Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 1 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 1 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 1 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 1 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 1 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
Year Two
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 2 Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 2 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 2 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 2 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 2 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 2 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
Year Three
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 3 Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 3 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 3 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 3 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 3 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 3 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
Year Four
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 4 Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 4 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 4 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 4 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 4 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 4 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
Year Five
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 5 Autumn 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 5 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 5 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 5 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 5 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 5 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
Year Six
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Year 6 Autumn 1 Knowledge oragniser.pdf | Download |
| Year 6 Autumn 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 6 Spring 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 6 Spring 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 6 Summer 1 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
| Year 6 Summer 2 Knowledge Organiser.pdf | Download |
What do we do if our pupils are not on track?
- Extra phonics sessions are provided to children from EYFS to Year 3
- Additional small spelling groups provided to all year groups
- Year 6 challenge group and support group from January – May
- Pre-teaching of key vocabulary for lessons
Impact
The impact of our spelling and vocabulary curriculum means that our pupils have strategies to spell unfamiliar words, understand spelling patterns and have a larger vocabulary. They develop crucial skills which will help them throughout their lives. Children will have a wider range of vocabulary and understand how to find meanings of unfamiliar words. They are not frightened to challenge themselves. Our pupils are ready for the next stage of their spelling and vocabulary journey.
