How to help your child practise their weekly spelling test

Most primary schools in England send home a list of spellings each week and test them a few days later. A little practice on most days makes a big difference, and it doesn’t need to take long.

1. Little and often

Ten minutes on four days is far better than forty minutes the night before. Short sessions are easier to fit in, and coming back to the words on different days is what moves them into long-term memory.

2. Spell from memory, not by copying

Copying a word out looks like practice but doesn’t test anything. Say the word, let your child spell it without looking, then check together. Getting it wrong and fixing it is part of learning.

3. Notice the pattern

Weekly lists usually practise one spelling rule, such as adding “-ing” or the “ou” sound. Ask your child what the words have in common: spotting the pattern helps with words that aren’t on the list.

4. Keep the tricky words coming back

Most children know some words straight away and stumble on two or three. Spend the time on those. A word that’s been spelt right on three different days is usually there for good.

5. Make it a game, and keep it kind

Children practise more when it feels like play and nobody is cross about mistakes. Celebrate effort, not just scores.

Where Spelling Bee helps

Spelling Bee does all of this for you: it has the weekly spelling lists for Years 1 to 6 and the National Curriculum word lists, reads every word aloud in a British voice, and brings back the words your child finds tricky until they stick. You can add your child’s own list from school too, by typing it or taking a photo.