Spelling Strand Year 2 – Spring term – overview and rationale
Follow a clear, structured teaching sequence for the Year 2 spelling scheme Spring term overview and rationale with this weekly overview, designed to complement our Mrs Mactivity SPaG scheme. Based on the DfE spelling appendix for Year 2, this document explains the rationale, weekly structure and progression behind the Spring term spelling strand.
Inside, you’ll find a week-by-week breakdown of spelling focuses and example words for each half term. Each half term includes five weeks of spelling lists, followed by a sixth week for consolidation and review. This built-in review week supports assessment, helps pupils secure key spelling patterns, and gives teachers time to revisit common errors before moving on.
Spring term spelling focuses include spelling patterns such as the ‘s’ sound spelt as c, dge and ge, g/j, kn, gn and wr, and key common exception words. Pupils also practise suffixes including -ed, -ing, -er and -est, as well as apostrophes for contractions and apostrophes for singular possession.
The spelling strand includes simple, effective routines to support pupils in learning and applying spellings, including:
- Introducing each week’s spelling list and discussing the meaning of each word
- Using Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check sheets for regular practice and recall
- Revisiting spellings through tracing, writing and KS1 spelling activities
- Using a weekly dictation PowerPoint and accompanying sheets to apply spellings in context
- Weekly spelling tests to track progress and identify pupils needing extra support
Weekly spelling lists can be cut out and placed into spelling books or home reading records for extra practice. The Trace and Write sheets are available in both precursive and cursive fonts, allowing teachers to choose the most suitable handwriting style for their pupils.
Written by experienced teachers, this resource provides everything you need to understand the pedagogy, sequence and assessment approach for spelling in Year 2. Use alongside the wider SPaG scheme for consistent coverage of spelling, punctuation and grammar across the primary phase.
