Spelling Strand Year 3 – Spring term – overview and rationale
Explore the full teaching sequence for the Year 3 spelling scheme Spring term overview and rationale with this week-by-week overview, designed to complement our Spectacular SPaG scheme. Based on the DfE spelling appendix for Year 3, this document explains the rationale, structure and progression behind the Spring term spelling strand.
Inside, you’ll find weekly 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, reinforces key spelling patterns and allows time to revisit recurring errors before moving on.
Spring term spelling focuses include a strong emphasis on prefixes and suffixes, alongside statutory word list spellings and tricky letter strings. Weekly focuses include:
- Prefix spelling patterns including super- and sub-, auto-, anti- and inter-, un-, dis- and mis-, and re-
- Suffixes including the -ly and -ally suffix
- Alternative spellings and letter strings including words with ch and the gue/que spelling patterns
- Year 3 and 4 statutory word list spellings (highlighted in blue) to support long-term spelling accuracy
The scheme includes suggested spelling routines such as introducing spellings and discussing word meanings using weekly lesson presentations, practising with Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check sheets, and applying spellings using weekly dictation tasks. Handwriting sheets are available in precursive, cursive and cursive joined fonts so you can choose the most suitable style for your pupils.
Written by experienced teachers, this resource provides clear guidance on the teaching sequence, practice approach and assessment routines for spelling in Year 3. Use alongside the wider SPaG scheme for consistent coverage of spelling, punctuation and grammar across KS2.
