Honest writing on primary spelling
Buyer guides for spelling apps, walkthroughs of the UK National Curriculum, and research-backed teaching tips. No fluff.
What a term of spelling data reveals about how children spell
We went through more than 100,000 real spelling attempts from a term of primary practice: the hardest words, the mistakes children actually make, the words that never click, and whether practice helps.
Spelling without the Friday test: what schools do now
No list on Monday, no test on Friday? Most schools that dropped the weekly test teach spelling through pattern study instead. What those lessons look like, how progress is checked, and how to keep home practice in step.
What are common exception words? (Year 1 and 2 lists)
Common exception words like 'the', 'said' and 'friend' don't follow the usual phonics rules. The full Year 1 list of 45 words, the Year 2 list, and how to help your child learn them.
The best spelling apps for kids (UK parent's guide, 2026)
For most children at home, our pick is SpellCast: adaptive daily practice, every word read aloud, dyslexia-friendly, free to start. Plus Spelling Shed, DoodleSpell, Spellzone and Nessy, and who each one suits.
DoodleSpell vs SpellCast: an honest comparison for primary schools
DoodleSpell vs SpellCast for UK primary schools. Set the week's words, children practise, run the test in the app. Pricing, narration, mobile and curriculum coverage, side by side.
Why KS2 writing stays low, and why spelling is often the real bottleneck
Writing is the lowest-attaining core subject at KS2. For many struggling writers the limiter isn't ideas, it's transcription: spelling and handwriting that aren't yet automatic, eating the working memory composition needs.
Phonics schemes and spelling: what they cover, and where KS2 needs more
Phonics schemes are reading programmes that mostly end at Year 2. How ELS, Little Wandle, Read Write Inc and Sounds-Write handle spelling, why decoding doesn't guarantee it, and what Key Stage 2 still needs.
Is My Child Behind if They Can't Spell Well?
One of the most common worries parents bring to a teacher. How to tell what 'behind' actually means, why it happens, whether your child will catch up, and what helps most at home.
How to Make Spelling Fun for Kids
Spelling practice doesn't have to be a slog. Simple spelling games for primary school children, why fun makes it work better, and how to keep every session light.
Is dyslexia affecting my child's spelling?
Spelling a word three ways in one paragraph? How dyslexia shows up in spelling, what else it could be, and the steps to get your child the right support — diagnosis or not.
Does spelling still matter in school anymore?
Autocorrect fixes everything, so does spelling still matter? Why it shapes reading, writing and confidence, and what the evidence really says.
The science of spelling: how children actually learn to spell
What cognitive science and reading research tell us about how children learn to spell — orthographic mapping, retrieval practice, spaced repetition, morphology — and what it means for primary teaching.
Looking for a Spelling Shed alternative? Here's what to consider
Why some UK schools are leaving Spelling Shed — pricing, classroom fit, the per-pupil cost question — and what a good alternative looks like.
EdShed alternatives for primary spelling: a teacher's guide
EdShed bundles spelling, phonics, maths, literacy and more. If all you actually want is a great spelling app, here's the case for going specialist.
National Curriculum word lists
Free printable spelling lists — every DfE statutory word with example sentences.