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Play Year 4 Spelling Lab
Choose selected statutory Years 3–4 spellings, affixed forms and word endings, contextual homophones and other confusable forms, and word-specific spelling patterns. Saving is off unless you choose it.
Choose spellings in eight supplied word-specific examples, including ch, vowel spellings and consonant doubling. Initial c/k and final ck/k choices, listening and independent spelling are not assessed.
Year 4 · English
Spelling awareness in Year 4 English
Start here
Focus on spelling rules for tricky letter sounds. Open support for “Choose ch or sh to Spell Different Words”, then explain the idea in your own words.
Understand the key idea
The same sound can be represented by different letter patterns. Accurate spelling uses sound, syllables, word families and known spelling patterns together, then checks words that do not follow the usual pattern.
Common mix-up
A spelling that sounds right is not always the standard spelling. Rules such as consonant doubling and choices between ch, sh, i, y, u and ou have exceptions that must be checked and remembered.
Try this first
- Say the word slowly and identify its syllables and individual sounds.
- Look for a known root word, word family or spelling pattern.
- Write the likely spelling, compare alternatives and check any exception in a dictionary or trusted word list.
Ask: Which spelling pattern fits this word, and is it one of the exceptions you need to remember?
Year 4 learners practise spelling rules for tricky letter sounds.
The activities include Choose ch or sh to Spell Different Words, Choose i or y to Spell Different Words, Choose u or ou to Spell Different Words, and related practice. The checked support below includes video, teaching-practice, teaching, worksheet. Open a resource in its provider's website and choose the format that best helps the learner explain the idea independently.
Free offline practice
Print & practise
Continue with a focused printable or a checked pack for this school year.
Activities covered
Finish one activity, then tap Done to earn one Den Drop ticket. You can earn up to 3 tickets each day.
- Choose ch or sh to Spell Different Words — support from Twinkl
- Choose i or y to Spell Different Words — support from Oak National Academy
- Choose u or ou to Spell Different Words — support from Twinkl
- Practise Spelling Tricky Words — support from Twinkl
- Identify the Use of ch to Spell the 'k' Phoneme — support from Twinkl
- Identify Whether to Use ch or sh — support from Twinkl
- Identify Whether to Use i or y — support from Oak National Academy
- Identify Whether to Use u or ou — support from Twinkl
- Identify Words that Use ch to Spell the 'k' Phoneme — support from Twinkl
- Investigate Exceptions to the Rule of Using ck for the k Phoneme — support from Reading Universe
- Learn to Spell Tricky Words — support from Twinkl
- Learn to Spell Words Beginning with 'c' and 'k' — support from Twinkl
- Practise Spelling Commonly Misspelt Words — support from Twinkl
- Practise Spelling Complex Words — support from Twinkl
- Practise Spelling Exceptions to the Doubling Consonant Rule — support from Oak National Academy
- Practise Spelling More Commonly Misspelt Words — support from Twinkl
- Practise Spelling Words Using ck or k — support from Reading Universe
- Practise Spelling Words Using i or y — support from Oak National Academy
- Practise Spelling Words Using the 'k' Phoneme — support from Twinkl
- Spell Commonly Misspelt Words — support from Twinkl
- Spell Two-Syllable Words with Short Vowels and Double Consonants — support from BBC
- Spell Words Using ch or sh — support from Twinkl
- Spell Words Using u or ou — support from Twinkl
- Understand When to Double the Consonant in Two-Syllable Words — support from BBC
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Watch it explained
watch a video explanation
Words with the /k/ Sound Spelt 'ch' and Words with the /sh/ Sound Spelt 'ch' | KS2 English Concept Video
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Oak: Other Sounds Represented By The Letter String Ei
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
The /u/ Sound Spelt 'ou' | KS2 English Concept Video
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Common Exception Words Y3/Y4 | KS2 English Concept Video
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Oak: Spelling Words Using Soft C
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Reading Universe: Overview of the '-ck' Spelling Rule
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
Oak Year 4: Doubling the consonant in polysyllabic words
Best for: a clear explanation before you practise
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Learn it properly
lessons and teaching pages
Oak lesson slides: Making Plurals Using The Suffix Es And Ves
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
Year 3/4 Spelling at Home: Adding the -ly Suffix to Make Adverbs (Root Words Ending in 'y' With More Than One Syllable) Spelling Pack
Best for: a structured lesson to work through
When is the 'i' sound spelt with a 'y'? - BBC Bitesize
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
The u Sound Spelt ou KS2 Spelling Practice Booklet
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
English Appendix 1: Spelling
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
Year 3 and 4 Common Exception Words Word Mat
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
Oak lesson slides: Spelling Words Of Greek Origin That Use Ch To Make A K Sound
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
K12 LibreTexts: Spelling the /k/ Sound with c, ck and k
Best for: a structured lesson to work through
Double Middle Letters: short vowels in two-syllable words
Best for: worked examples and step-by-step teaching
DCSF Support for Spelling: two-syllable -le patterns
Best for: a structured lesson to work through
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Practise it
questions and activities to try
Find and Sink /c/ or /k/ Initial Letter Game
Best for: active questions with immediate feedback
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Print and finish
worksheets away from the screen
Words with Endings /k/ Sound Spelt 'ch' and Words with the /sh/ Sound Spelt 'ch' KS2 Spelling Practice Booklet
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
Spelling Activity Booklet: Creating Adverbs Using the Suffix -ly (Exceptions to the Rule) Ages 7 - 9
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
Oak worksheet: Spelling Words Of Greek Origin That Use Ch To Make A K Sound
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
'ck' and 'k' Spelling Pattern Odd One Out Worksheet
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
BBC KS2 English Spelling: Double Consonants
Best for: pencil-and-paper practice away from the screen
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