Phase 6 phonics builds on the phonics knowledge children have developed during Phases 2 to 5. At this stage, children continue applying their phonics knowledge while developing greater accuracy and fluency in reading and spelling.
The focus of Phase 6 moves increasingly towards spelling patterns, word endings, prefixes, suffixes, grammatical endings and common spelling rules.
Children learn how words can change when prefixes and suffixes are added and develop a better understanding of how words are structured.
Phase 6 also supports children as they move towards becoming more independent readers and writers.
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about Phase 6 phonics, including spelling patterns, suffixes, prefixes, word endings, spelling rules, reading fluency and ways to support children at home.
What Is Phase 6 Phonics?
Phase 6 is the final stage of the Letters and Sounds phonics programme and builds on the grapheme-phoneme knowledge children developed during earlier phases.
By this stage, children should have a secure understanding of many common grapheme-phoneme correspondences and should be increasingly confident using phonics to decode unfamiliar words.
The focus now shifts towards developing more advanced reading and spelling skills.
Children learn about:
- spelling patterns
- prefixes
- suffixes
- word endings
- verb endings
- contractions
- homophones
- common spelling rules
- unusual spellings
- proofreading and correcting spelling
- reading fluently and accurately
Phase 6 therefore helps children move from relying primarily on phonics to becoming increasingly independent readers and spellers.
Phase 6 Spelling
Spelling becomes a major focus during Phase 6.
Children learn that words can change when letters or groups of letters are added.
For example:
help → helping
help → helped
help → helper
They also learn spelling rules and patterns that help them make accurate choices when writing.
Children should continue using phonics to identify the sounds in words while also drawing on their growing knowledge of spelling patterns.
Prefixes in Phase 6
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Examples include:
un-
unhappy
re-
replay
dis-
dislike
mis-
misread
Children learn to recognise common prefixes and understand how they affect the meaning of words.
For example:
happy → unhappy
play → replay
like → dislike
Understanding prefixes helps children read, spell and understand longer words.
Suffixes in Phase 6
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word.
Suffixes can change the meaning or grammatical form of a word.
Common suffixes include:
-s
-es
-ed
-ing
-er
-est
-ful
-less
-ness
-ly
For example:
help → helped
help → helping
quick → quickly
kind → kindness
Children learn how suffixes are added to words and how spelling can sometimes change when a suffix is added.
Adding -ing
Children learn how to spell words when adding -ing.
For many words, the ending can simply be added:
help → helping
jump → jumping
play → playing
However, some words require changes to the root word.
For example:
run → running
hop → hopping
Children learn to recognise these patterns and apply the appropriate spelling rule.
Adding -ed
Children also develop their understanding of the -ed ending.
Examples include:
jump → jumped
help → helped
look → looked
Some words require changes to the root word:
hop → hopped
stop → stopped
Children should practise these patterns regularly so that spelling becomes increasingly automatic.
Adding -er and -est
Children learn how words can change when -er and -est are added.
For example:
tall → taller → tallest
fast → faster → fastest
small → smaller → smallest
They also encounter words where the spelling needs to change when the suffix is added.
Learning these patterns helps children develop greater accuracy when spelling.
Adding -ful and -less
Children learn that adding suffixes can create new words.
For example:
help → helpful
help → helpless
care → careful
care → careless
The suffix -ful often means “full of”, while -less can mean “without”.
Understanding these patterns can also help children work out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Adding -ness
The suffix -ness can be added to some adjectives to create nouns.
For example:
kind → kindness
dark → darkness
happy → happiness
Children should be encouraged to notice how the spelling of the root word may change when the suffix is added.
Adding -ly
The suffix -ly is commonly added to adjectives to create adverbs.
For example:
quick → quickly
slow → slowly
careful → carefully
Children learn to recognise these patterns when reading and apply them when spelling.
Spelling Rules in Phase 6
Phase 6 introduces children to a growing range of spelling rules and patterns.
Some common areas include:
Doubling the Final Consonant
When adding a suffix beginning with a vowel, some short words require the final consonant to be doubled.
For example:
hop → hopping
run → running
stop → stopped
Dropping the Final ‘e’
When adding some suffixes, the final e may be removed.
For example:
hope → hoping
make → making
shine → shining
Changing ‘y’ to ‘i’
In some words, the final y changes when a suffix is added.
For example:
happy → happier
happy → happiness
Children learn to recognise and apply these spelling patterns.
Contractions in Phase 6
Children learn that two words can sometimes be shortened by using an apostrophe.
These shortened forms are called contractions.
Examples include:
do not → don’t
cannot → can’t
did not → didn’t
I am → I’m
we are → we’re
they are → they’re
Children need to learn to recognise contractions when reading and use them appropriately when writing.
Homophones in Phase 6
Children also begin developing their understanding of homophones.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
Examples include:
there / their / they’re
to / too / two
see / sea
here / hear
be / bee
Children need to learn the meaning and spelling of common homophones so they can choose the correct word when writing.
[Explore our homophones resources →]
Unusual Spellings
English contains many words that do not follow the spelling patterns children might expect.
During Phase 6, children continue developing their knowledge of common exception words and unusual spelling patterns.
Examples include words such as:
people
because
beautiful
could
would
should
Children should continue using their phonics knowledge wherever possible while learning the parts of words that cannot easily be decoded or spelled using familiar patterns.
Reading Fluency in Phase 6
By Phase 6, children should be becoming increasingly fluent readers.
They should be able to decode unfamiliar words using their phonics knowledge and recognise many familiar words automatically.
Reading fluency involves more than simply reading words correctly. Children should gradually develop:
- accuracy
- speed
- expression
- phrasing
- understanding
Regular reading practice is important.
Children should have opportunities to read both decodable texts and a wide range of books that develop their vocabulary, knowledge and enjoyment of reading.
Spelling Strategies for Phase 6
Children can use several strategies to help them spell unfamiliar words.
Segment the Word
Encourage children to listen carefully to the phonemes in the word.
Look for Familiar Patterns
Help children identify known spelling patterns, prefixes and suffixes.
Break Words into Parts
Longer words can often be broken into smaller, more manageable parts.
For example:
unhappy
→ un + happy
Look for the Root Word
When a suffix has been added, identify the original word.
For example:
helping
→ help + ing
Check the Spelling
Encourage children to reread their writing and look carefully for spelling mistakes.
Developing the habit of checking and correcting spelling is an important part of becoming an independent writer.
How to Practise Phase 6 Phonics at Home
Phase 6 practice can be incorporated naturally into reading and writing activities.
1. Explore word endings
Practise adding suffixes to familiar words.
For example:
jump → jumped → jumping
2. Build word families
Explore words that share the same root.
For example:
help
helpful
helper
helping
helped
3. Practise prefixes
Explore how prefixes change the meaning of words.
For example:
happy → unhappy
play → replay
4. Practise homophones
Choose two homophones and discuss their different meanings.
For example:
there / their
Ask your child to use each word in a sentence.
5. Practise contractions
Match the full form to the contracted form.
For example:
do not → don’t
I am → I’m
we are → we’re
6. Read regularly
Encourage your child to read every day.
Talk about new vocabulary and ask questions about what they have read to develop comprehension.
7. Proofread writing
Encourage your child to reread their writing and look for spelling errors.
Ask:
Does this word look right?
Can you break it into smaller parts?
Do you know a spelling pattern that could help?
Phase 6 Phonics Activities
Prefix and Suffix Word Building
Give children a root word and ask them to add different prefixes or suffixes.
For example:
help → helper → helpful → helpless
Word Sorting
Sort words according to their suffix.
-ful → helpful, careful
-less → helpless, careless
-ness → kindness, darkness
Contraction Matching
Match contractions to their full forms.
don’t → do not
can’t → cannot
we’re → we are
Homophone Sorting
Match homophones to their meanings and use them in sentences.
Spelling Rule Practice
Practise common spelling rules such as doubling the final consonant, dropping the final e and changing y to i.
Word Investigation
Choose a word and explore:
- the root word
- prefixes
- suffixes
- meaning
- spelling pattern
- related words
Proofreading Practice
Give children a short piece of writing containing spelling mistakes and ask them to find and correct them.
Free Phase 6 Phonics Resources
Ready to practise Phase 6 phonics?
Explore our collection of free printable Phase 6 phonics resources designed to support spelling, word structure, prefixes, suffixes, homophones and reading development.
Phase 6 Worksheets
Practise spelling patterns, prefixes, suffixes, contractions, homophones and word endings with printable worksheets.
[Explore Phase 6 Worksheets →]
Phase 6 Assessment
Check children’s understanding of Phase 6 spelling patterns and their ability to apply their phonics knowledge when reading and writing.
[Explore Phase 6 Assessment Resources →]
Year 2 Phonics Resources
Find resources to support children as they consolidate their phonics knowledge and develop their Year 2 reading and spelling skills.
[Explore Year 2 Phonics Resources →]
Phase 6 and Year 2
Phase 6 is particularly relevant to children in Year 2, as they continue developing the reading and spelling skills needed across the wider curriculum.
Children should continue applying their phonics knowledge while developing their understanding of spelling patterns, word structure and common exception words.
Phonics should not be treated as a separate skill from reading and writing. Children benefit from seeing and applying spelling patterns in meaningful texts and in their own writing.
When Are Children Ready to Move Beyond Phase 6?
Phase 6 is different from earlier phonics phases because it is not simply a stage that children complete and then stop using.
The phonics knowledge developed throughout Phases 2–5 continues to support reading and spelling, while the spelling patterns and word knowledge developed during Phase 6 continue to grow throughout Key Stage 2.
Children should continue developing their ability to:
- read unfamiliar words accurately
- read increasingly fluently
- spell common words accurately
- apply known spelling patterns
- use prefixes and suffixes
- recognise common homophones
- use apostrophes in contractions
- proofread and correct their writing
- use dictionaries and other resources to check unfamiliar spellings
Phonics remains an important part of children’s reading and spelling development even as they become increasingly independent readers and writers.
Phase 6 Phonics FAQs
What is Phase 6 phonics?
Phase 6 is the final phase in the Letters and Sounds programme. It focuses increasingly on spelling, word structure, prefixes, suffixes, grammatical endings, contractions, homophones and reading fluency.
What is taught in Phase 6?
Children develop their spelling knowledge and learn about prefixes, suffixes, word endings, contractions, homophones and common spelling patterns.
Is Phase 6 still phonics?
Yes. Children continue applying the phonics knowledge they developed in earlier phases while also developing more advanced spelling and word-structure knowledge.
What are prefixes?
Prefixes are groups of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. Examples include un-, re-, dis- and mis-.
What are suffixes?
Suffixes are groups of letters added to the end of a word. Examples include -ing, -ed, -er, -est, -ful, -less, -ness and -ly.
What are homophones?
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Examples include there/their/they’re, to/too/two and see/sea.
What are contractions?
Contractions are shortened forms of words or groups of words. Examples include don’t for do not, can’t for cannot and I’m for I am.
What spelling rules are taught in Phase 6?
Children learn and practise a range of spelling patterns and rules, including adding suffixes, doubling final consonants, dropping a final e and changing y to i in certain words.
How can I help my child with Phase 6 phonics?
Encourage regular reading and writing. Practise spelling patterns, prefixes, suffixes, contractions and homophones, and encourage your child to proofread their writing and check unfamiliar spellings.
Does phonics stop after Phase 6?
No. Children continue applying their phonics knowledge throughout their reading and spelling development. As they progress through Key Stage 2, they continue learning new spelling patterns, vocabulary and word structures.
Continue Your Phonics Journey
Phase 6 builds on everything children have learned throughout their phonics journey and helps them become increasingly confident readers and writers.
[Explore our Free Phonics Resources →]
Or explore our [Phonics Worksheets →] for printable activities to support reading and spelling at home or in the classroom.