Page 57 - English programmes of study: key stages 1 and 2

English – key stages 1 and 2

Spelling – years 5 and 6

Revise work done in previous years

New work for years 5 and 6

Statutory Rules and guidance (non-statutory) Example words
requirements (non-statutory)

Endings which Not many common words end like this. vicious, precious,
sound like /ʃəs/ If the root word ends in –ce, the /ʃ/ conscious, delicious,
spelt –cious or sound is usually spelt as c – e.g. vice malicious, suspicious
–tious – vicious, grace – gracious, space – ambitious, cautious,

spacious, malice – malicious. fictitious, infectious,
Exception: anxious. nutritious

Endings which –cial is common after a vowel letter official, special, artificial,
sound like /ʃəl/ and –tial after a consonant letter, but partial, confidential,
there are some exceptions. essential

Exceptions: initial, financial,
commercial, provincial (the spelling of
the last three is clearly related to
finance, commerce and province).

Words ending Use –ant and –ance/–ancy if there is observant, observance,
in –ant, a related word with a /æ/ or /eɪ/ sound (observation), expectant
–ance/–ancy, in the right position; –ation endings (expectation), hesitant,
–ent, are often a clue. hesitancy (hesitation),
–ence/–ency tolerant, tolerance
(toleration), substance
(substantial)

Use –ent and –ence/–ency after soft innocent, innocence,
c (/s/ sound), soft g (/dʒ/ sound) and decent, decency, frequent,
qu, or if there is a related word with a frequency, confident,
clear /ɛ/ sound in the right position. confidence (confidential)
There are many words, however, assistant, assistance,
where the above guidance does not obedient, obedience,
help. These words just have to be independent,
learnt. independence

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