5 best ways to help your child with SPAG KS2 SATs

5 best ways to help your child with SPAG KS2 SATs

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) is a key part of the Year 6 KS2 SATs, and for many children (and parents), it can feel like the trickiest paper to revise for.

The good news? Helping your child with SPaG doesn’t mean endless worksheets or long revision sessions. With short, regular practice — and the right approach — children can build confidence and accuracy over time.

Here are five practical ways to support your child with KS2 SPaG revision at home.

 

1. SPAG-tastic Spellers!

By the end of Year 6, children are expected to know the statutory Year 5/6 spelling list from the National Curriculum. Simply copying words out repeatedly doesn’t always stick — especially for reluctant spellers.

Instead, try:

  • Missing-letter games, where children complete partially written words

  • Odd-one-out spelling tasks (three incorrect spellings, one correct)

  • Hands-on spelling using Scrabble tiles or letter cards

  • Spelling aloud while building words physically

Making spelling interactive helps children recognise patterns rather than memorise blindly — which is exactly what the SPaG test assesses.

 

2. Voracious Vocabulary Builders!

A strong vocabulary underpins success across SPaG, reading, and writing. Children who read widely tend to perform better because they encounter grammar and spelling in context.

To boost vocabulary:

  • Set a “word of the day” and challenge your child to use it correctly

  • Ask them to find synonyms or antonyms against the clock

  • Read a range of genres together — fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, poetry

  • Keep a simple reading log and reward consistency, not speed

Vocabulary grows gradually — small, daily exposure makes a big difference.

 

3. Grammar Gurus!

Many children struggle with identifying word classes, verb tenses, and grammatical terminology — all heavily tested in the KS2 SPaG paper.

Try:

  • Colour-coding sentences (nouns one colour, verbs another, etc.)

  • Grammar flashcards with a definition on one side and an example on the other

  • Timed challenges to recall examples of determiners, conjunctions, or relative clauses

Making grammar visual and active helps children remember terminology more confidently under test conditions.

 

 

4. Punctuation Perfectionists!

Punctuation is one of the most common stumbling blocks in the SPaG SATs — particularly apostrophes, colons, semi-colons, and dashes.

To build confidence:

  • Give your child silly sentences to punctuate correctly

  • Focus first on common mistakes you notice in their writing

  • Read sentences aloud with and without punctuation to show how meaning changes

  • Copy examples from real books and discuss why punctuation is used

Understanding why punctuation matters is far more powerful than memorising rules.

 

5. Keep a daily journal

Long pieces of writing can feel overwhelming. A daily journal is a low-pressure way to practise grammar and punctuation regularly.

You could:

  • Set a single focus each day (e.g. fronted adverbials, commas, speech marks)

  • Write just a short paragraph or a few sentences

  • Review it together and let your child correct their own mistakes

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Supporting SPaG Confidence for KS2 SATs

Consistency matters more than intensity. Ten focused minutes a day is far more effective than long, stressful revision sessions.

If you’re looking for structured SPaG practice that mirrors the style and challenge of the KS2 SATs, SATs Companion offers:

  • 10 full SPaG practice tests

  • Thousands of SATs-style SPaG questions

  • Instant feedback to highlight gaps quickly

Helping children understand SPaG — rather than fear it — is the key to progress.