Children need to learn these essential words:
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ESSENTIAL WORDS for SPELLING and WRITING |
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Essential List 1 (10 words; 25% of writing) |
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a |
I |
it |
the |
was |
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and |
in |
my |
to |
we |
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Essential List 2 (20 words; 15% of writing) |
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at |
had |
of |
that |
up |
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but |
he |
on |
then |
went |
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for |
is |
she |
there |
when |
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got |
me |
so |
they |
you |
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Essential List 3 (30 words; 10% of writing) |
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about |
be |
go |
into |
our |
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after |
because |
going |
just |
out |
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all |
came |
have |
like |
said |
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are |
day |
her |
mum |
some |
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as |
down |
his |
not |
were |
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back |
get |
home |
one |
with |
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Essential List 4 (50 words; 10% of writing) |
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again |
do |
next |
people |
time |
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an |
first |
night |
put |
took |
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around |
food |
no |
ran |
two |
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big |
from |
now |
saw |
us |
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by |
good |
off |
school |
very |
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can |
has |
old |
see |
well |
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come |
him |
only |
started |
what |
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could |
house |
or |
their |
will |
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dad |
if |
other |
them |
would |
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did |
little |
over |
this |
your |
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Essential List 5 (50 words; 5% of writing) |
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am |
door |
last |
once |
through |
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another |
everyone |
left |
play |
told |
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away |
family |
long |
really |
too |
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bed |
five |
looked |
room |
walked |
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been |
found |
made |
something |
want |
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before |
friend |
man |
still |
way |
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best |
fun |
more |
thing |
where |
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brother |
heard |
morning |
think |
which |
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called |
here |
name |
thought |
who |
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car |
know |
never |
three |
year |
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Essential List 6 (70 words; 5% of writing) |
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also |
cool |
eyes |
head |
jump |
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always |
dark |
fell |
hit |
knew |
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asked |
decided |
felt |
how |
later |
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black |
dog |
find |
inside |
life |
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boy |
eat |
four |
its |
live |
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bus |
end |
gave |
itÕs |
lot |
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cat |
even |
getting |
IÕll |
lunch |
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coming |
every |
great |
IÕm |
make |
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minutes |
place |
sister |
top |
water |
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most |
ready |
sleep |
town |
while |
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much |
ride |
suddenly |
tree |
why |
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nice |
right |
take |
turned |
window |
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opened |
run |
tell |
until |
woke |
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outside |
say |
ten |
wanted |
yes |
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Essential List 7 (60 words; 3% of writing) |
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any |
each |
ground |
money |
soon |
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baby |
ever |
guard |
mother |
stay |
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bad |
everything |
hand |
myself |
stop |
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ball |
face |
happened |
new |
swimming |
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being |
fast |
happy |
parents |
tea |
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bit |
father |
help |
picked |
than |
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boat |
few |
hole |
playing |
tried |
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bought |
finally |
hot |
presents |
under |
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camp |
finished |
hour |
road |
wait |
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dead |
game |
let |
side |
won |
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died |
girl |
look |
small |
work |
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doing |
gone |
many |
sometimes |
world |
A guide for parents to follow - by the end of Y2 children should be expected to know all the words in List 1-2 , the end of Y4 - Lists 1-4, the end of Y6 - Lists 1-6, the end of Y8 Lists 1-7. In some cases children will have mastered all these words at an earlier stage. There are lots of other words these children could be learning.