English // Spelling & Word Study
Homophones
Distinguish and correctly spell common homophones and near-homophones encountered at Y3-4 level (e.g., accept/except, affect/effect, brake/break, grate/great), including using the /eɪ/ sound spelt ei, eigh, or ey
Quick check
When the learner writes, do they use the right spelling for words that sound the same but mean different things — like "brake" (on a bike) and "break" (snap something)?
Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.
Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Spell pairs of homophones correctly in context (e.g., 'there/their/they're', 'brake/break', 'grate/great')
- Choose the correct homophone to complete a sentence (e.g., 'The dog wagged its/it's tail')
- Spell words with the /eɪ/ sound as ei, eigh, or ey (e.g., vein, eight, they, neighbour)
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
3 topics- Alternative Spellings for SoundsRequired
Spelling & Word Study // Ages 6 to 9
Y3-4 homophones build on Y2 alternative spellings/homophones
- Phonics VocabularyHelpful
Spelling & Word Study // Ages 4 to 7
Distinguishing homophones requires knowing 'homophone' as a named category
Phonics & Word Reading // Ages 5 to 8
Exception word knowledge supports homophone discrimination
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Homophones
Ages 7 to 9 // Method
Leads to
1 topic- Homophones (age 9+)Required
Spelling & Word Study // Ages 9 to 10
Y5-6 homophones (affect/effect, practice/practise) build on the Y3-4 homophone programme
Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- Eng_App1_Sp_Y34_15Eng_App1_Sp_Y34_17Eng_LKS2_Write_Trans_Spell_2
English // Spelling & Word Study
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