Teaching and Assessing Phonics and Spelling

The 2014 English National Curriculum identifies the statutory spelling and phonic requirements throughout Key Stages 1 and 2. These will be assessed for the first time in the summer of 2016. This online course will help you to meet those requirements. Full Course Details

“A very thorough and thought provoking course. Resources are excellent and I will definitely be more considerate of the children’s capabilities and needs with regards to spelling, how it is taught, my delivery and the consistency.”

“I really appreciate your input and I am utilising the knowledge and strategies with my children already!”

This certified online course covers:

  • Explanation of phonic terminology and phonological and orthographical representations
  • Materials and resources for Teaching and Assessing Phonics
  • Spelling Strategies
  • Assessment materials for spelling and phonics
  • We are now taking registrations for our next course starting September 2016

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    Tutor Support & Mentoring

    When you enrol on any of our online courses you will have access to an experienced, qualified and friendly tutor ready to answer your questions and give support.

    Study at your own pace

    All course materials are available 24 hours a day via our website. All online seminars are recorded and made available to you. Access at any time using a computer, tablet or mobile.

    Certified Courses

    All our online courses are certified and have completion criteria, once you have fulfilled the course requirements we will issue you with a course certificate. All our courses meet the 2016 DFE Standards for Teachers' Professional Development.

    Teaching and Assessing Phonics and Spelling

    The 2014 National Curriculum for English specifies statutory requirements for phonics and spelling. By the end of Y1 pupils are expected to meet the expected standard in phonics, which is assessed by the screening check. By the beginning of KS2 the National Curriculum guidance says that pupils who are still struggling to decode need to be taught to do this urgently through a rigorous and systematic phonics programme.

    Research shows that the active teaching of spelling and phonics plays a decisive role in children’s development.

    This online course covers a range of strategies that you can teach your pupils to ensure effective teaching and learning of phonics and spelling. The materials and resources included relate directly to the phonics content and spelling words in the 2014 English National Curriculum Programmes of Study.

    The teaching of spelling should be more than a list of words, given out on Monday to be learned for the Friday test. Research shows that the active teaching of spelling plays a decisive role in children’s development as successful spellers. This online course will cover a range of strategies to ensure the effective teaching and learning of spelling.

    Duration Learning Hours Online Seminars Tasks Key Stage Suitable For
    3 Months 10 (includes Seminars) 2 1 KS1, KS2 Teachers, Literacy Co-ordinators, TAs, HLTAs

    This course will cover

  • A repertoire of strategies to ensure the effective teaching and learning of spelling.
  • Methods to encourage pupils to monitor their own spelling.
  • Understanding of the different routes that children take into the spelling system.
  • eLearning area with video tutorials that give explanation of phonic terminology and phonological and orthographical representations.
  • Materials and resources for Teaching and Assessing Phonics.
  • Assessment materials for spelling.
  • Course Structure

  • Session 1 - Teaching and Assessing Spelling
  • Session 2 - Teaching and Assessing Phonics
  • Course Organisation and Requirements
    Teaching and Assessing Phonics and Spelling is an online course, delivered via our Support4Schools elearning environment where all course resources are provided. You can interact with other course participants using the forums on the eLearning site. The eLearning area also contains a number of resources and links to useful websites and articles. To access the eLearning site and online meetings you require a computer with internet access and speakers / headphones, or a smartphone or tablet with the relevant apps installed. Course requirements include some workbased tasks related to your identified area of focus. They are designed to fit in with your work commitments to minimise the amount of any additional work. The course takes place over a 3 month period from the time you enrol, with 2 online meetings. On successful completion of the course candidates will receive a course completion certificate.

    Course duration

  • 4 month’s access to the spelling resources and training in the eLearning area.
  • Two online seminars
  • Tutor support.
  • Course Tutors
    The tutors for this course are Beverley Barnes and Sue McCaldon.
    Beverley has a wide experience of delivering training in Literacy having worked as a Literacy Consultant for Kirklees LA. She is a visiting lecturer for the University of Manchester and is actively involved with teaching in schools.
    Sue has vast experience of developing Literacy programmes. Her past experience includes being a LA Senior School Improvement Officer with responsibility for Literacy and Manager for the National Literacy Project in Manchester. She was a co-author of various Reading Intervention Programmes and has contributed to books and TV programmes for schools.

    Course Fees
    £99.99 +VAT

    Register Now»

    For further information please contact the Programme Team:
    spelling@literacymatters.com or Tel: 08442 779569

    Comments from previous candidates: "I got caught up at work and was unable to attend the live spelling session - but I got up extra early this morning and watched to the recording. Fabulous. I really enjoyed it, and wished I could have been there to interact with the tutor and the other teachers. It's helped reinforce what I'm doing and give me some new strategies."