Daily Spelling Tests with Autism & ADHD-Friendly Settings
Spell Step UK – A Calm Primary Learning App for Spelling, Maths and More
Spell Step UK is an interactive primary school learning app for children aged 4–11, supporting learning across Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. It combines spelling, phonics, maths, times tables, reading, writing, emotional learning and brain games in one calm, child-friendly learning environment.
Designed with neurodivergent-friendly learning in mind, Spell Step UK provides small-step activities, gentle feedback, accessible presentation and reduced visual pressure to help children practise at their own pace.
Spell Step UK is currently in development and will be available soon.
A Spelling App For Kids – Designed for Real Children
Learning does not look the same for every child. Some children enjoy fast-paced games and colourful interfaces, while others learn better when activities are predictable, calm and broken into smaller steps.
Spell Step UK has been created to provide a different approach to children’s educational apps. Instead of trying to make every activity louder, faster or more stimulating, the app focuses on clear instructions, manageable learning steps, gentle feedback and meaningful repetition.
The app is aimed at children approximately 4 to 11 years old, covering learning appropriate to Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. Its content is organised into age and year-group bands so that children can work on material appropriate to their current stage while still having opportunities to progress.
Spell Step UK can be used as a home learning app, a revision tool, a way to practise skills taught at school, or simply as a short daily learning activity.
One Learning App, Multiple Ways to Learn
Spell Step UK brings several areas of primary learning together so children can practise important skills without needing to move between multiple educational apps.
? Spell Step – Spelling & Phonics
Build spelling confidence with structured word practice covering different primary-school learning stages. Spell Step includes age and year-group word bands, phonics-related practice and repeated exposure to words that need more attention.
Children can practise individual words through different interactive activities rather than simply being asked to type the same answer repeatedly.
? Maths Step – Numbers & Times Tables
Maths practice covers primary-school number skills, arithmetic and multiplication facts, with activities designed to build fluency gradually.
This makes Spell Step UK useful for children practising times tables, preparing for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check and developing confidence with everyday primary maths.
? Reading Step
Reading Step provides reading practice and comprehension activities, helping children work with different types of passages and develop skills such as retrieving information, understanding meaning and making inferences.
Reading presentation includes accessibility options designed to make longer passages more comfortable to read.
✏️ Writing Step
Writing Step introduces interactive literacy activities including sentence construction, punctuation and word-class activities.
Rather than treating English as spelling alone, Spell Step UK provides additional opportunities to practise written language and grammar skills.
? Emotion Step
Emotion Step provides activities around recognising feelings, thinking about situations, choosing responses and developing emotional awareness.
Activities include What Am I Feeling?, Match the Feeling, What Would You Do?, Calm Down and Emotion Builder.
? Think Step – Brain Games
Think Step contains a collection of cognitive games designed around memory, attention, sequencing, pattern recognition, visual processing and logical thinking.
Examples include memory challenges, pattern completion, sound sequences, finding differences, remembering and repeating information and multitasking activities.
Spelling Practice That Builds Confidence Step by Step
Spelling can be difficult when a child is expected to remember a word after seeing it only once. Spell Step UK uses a progression-based approach so that children encounter learning material repeatedly in different ways.
The spelling system tracks learning progress and can prioritise words and spelling patterns that require additional practice. This includes attention to grapheme patterns such as consonant digraphs, consonant blends, vowel teams and silent-e spelling patterns.
The app’s daily learning routine includes stages such as warm-up, learning, challenge, remembering and reward. This creates a predictable learning structure rather than presenting children with an unrelated collection of questions.
Interactive Spelling Activities for Primary Children
Spell Step UK uses several activity types to give children different ways to interact with words.
Trace-It
Trace words on screen to combine visual recognition with hands-on interaction.
Keyboard Copy
Match and select letters while becoming familiar with keyboard layout and spelling patterns.
Missing Link
Find missing letters and use memory and phonics knowledge to complete words.
Match Up
Listen and identify the matching word to reinforce connections between spoken and written language.
Primary English Learning
Spell Step UK has been developed around the learning needs of children in the English primary-school system. The app includes groupings covering Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Years 3–4 and Years 5–6.
In the spelling area, children can work with words appropriate to their selected learning band. Parents can also adjust the target word group where appropriate, allowing the app to provide additional challenge without automatically making every activity harder.
| Stage | Typical focus |
|---|---|
| Reception | Early literacy, foundation spelling and phonics-related learning. |
| Year 1 | Early spelling, phonics and common words. |
| Year 2 | Developing spelling accuracy and more challenging word patterns. |
| Years 3–4 | Lower Key Stage 2 spelling, maths fluency and times tables. |
| Years 5–6 | Upper Key Stage 2 spelling, maths, reading, writing and SATs-related preparation. |
The English National Curriculum places importance on phonics, spelling, vocabulary, reading and writing. Spell Step UK is designed to provide additional practice alongside a child’s normal school learning rather than replacing classroom teaching.
Maths and Times Tables Practice for KS1 and KS2
Maths Step provides structured practice in primary mathematics, including arithmetic, number skills, multiplication and division and other curriculum-linked maths areas.
For children in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, regular practice can help develop confidence and fluency with mathematical facts. Spell Step UK is particularly useful as an additional times tables practice app for children working towards fluency.
2, 5 and 10 times tables
Early multiplication practice suitable for children developing their first times-table facts.
3, 4 and 8 times tables
Additional multiplication practice for lower Key Stage 2 learners.
Times tables up to 12 × 12
Continued multiplication and division fact practice for children developing full times-table fluency.
Year 4 preparation
Useful additional practice for children preparing for the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check.
The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check in England assesses children’s fluent recall of multiplication tables up to 12 × 12. Spell Step UK provides practice alongside normal school teaching.
Designed with Neurodivergent-Friendly Learning in Mind
One of the key principles behind Spell Step UK is that an educational app does not need to be overwhelming to be engaging.
The interface and learning routines have been designed with children who may experience sensory sensitivity, attention differences or difficulties with traditional learning interfaces in mind. This includes children with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.
? Calm visual design
The app uses quiet colour palettes rather than relying on highly saturated backgrounds and visually busy screens.
? Flexible audio
Audio and speech settings can be adjusted, including slower speech and automatic audio repetition.
? Reading accessibility
Reading activities include adjustable presentation features such as font scaling, increased line spacing and dyslexia-friendly reading preferences.
? Small learning steps
Daily activities are broken into stages so children can focus on one manageable learning task at a time.
⏱️ Reduced pressure
Calm and routine modes can reduce timed pressure in appropriate brain-game activities and provide a steadier experience.
? Personal choice
Children can choose from different quiet visual themes and animal learning companions.
Spell Step UK is described as neurodivergent-friendly because of its design approach. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace professional support for autism, ADHD, dyslexia or any other condition.
Adaptive Learning and Spaced Practice
Spell Step UK does more than record whether an answer was right or wrong. Its learning system keeps track of progress for individual learning items and uses that information to help decide what should be practised next.
A spelling word can move through stages such as unseen, learning, practising, almost mastered, mastered, due for review and secure. This allows the app to distinguish between something a child has just encountered and something they can demonstrate consistently.
The app also records response performance and uses different learning contexts, including direct tasks, representation, delayed review and applied context.
7-Day Review Flashcards
Spell Step UK can create a rolling flashcard deck using spelling and maths items encountered during the previous seven days. This gives children another opportunity to revisit recently practised learning rather than simply moving on and forgetting it.
Gentle Feedback Instead of Frustration
Getting an answer wrong is part of learning. Spell Step UK is designed to make mistakes useful rather than discouraging.
The app includes a Thinking Turtle spelling support feature that can identify tricky parts of a word and help draw attention to the relevant letter pattern.
For example, when a child struggles with a word such as school, the app can highlight the tricky ch pattern rather than simply presenting the child with another incorrect-answer message.
The aim is to encourage children to notice spelling patterns and try again with more information.
Explore Spell Step World
Learning progress can also unlock areas of Spell Step World. Rather than making children grind for points, the world map is linked to learning mastery.
As children build secure skills, new areas can become available, giving progress a visual purpose and another reason to keep practising.
Animal Buddies, Rewards and Positive Progress
Spell Step UK includes child-friendly rewards designed to recognise participation and progress without turning learning into a high-pressure competition.
Children can choose animal learning companions, with options including characters such as Brave Tiger Cub, Bouncy Bunny, Cuddly Bear and Curious Kitten.
Parent-Friendly Controls and Progress
Spell Step UK is designed for families as well as children. Parents can have their own protected area for viewing learning information and managing settings.
? Parent PIN
Parent controls can be protected by a four-digit PIN, with failed-attempt protection and a temporary lockout mechanism.
??? Multiple child profiles
The app supports child profiles so progress can be kept separately for different children.
? Learning progress
Parents can access information about spelling, maths and other areas of learning progress.
⚙️ Learning settings
Groups and accessibility preferences can be adjusted to suit the child.
Privacy-First, Child-Focused Learning
Parents understandably want to know what happens to their child’s learning information. Spell Step UK has been designed with a privacy-first approach.
Core profile and progress information is stored locally using the app’s on-device data storage architecture. The application’s local repository explicitly operates as an offline-only repository, rather than relying on a remote learning-data service.
The app is also designed without third-party advertising or social-media distractions. The focus is learning rather than keeping children engaged with unrelated content.
Designed for learning, not distraction
- No third-party advertising.
- No social-media feed or child-facing social network.
- Parent controls are protected by a PIN.
- Learning progress is designed to remain available without requiring an internet connection.
- Parents can permanently delete the parent account and on-device child data through the app’s account deletion process.
Who Is Spell Step UK For?
Spell Step UK is designed for a wide range of primary-aged learners. It can be particularly useful for families looking for additional practice outside school.
? Reception & EYFS
Early literacy and foundation learning activities for children taking their first steps with words and numbers.
? KS1 Children
Spelling, phonics, maths and reading practice for Years 1 and 2.
? KS2 Children
More advanced spelling, maths, reading, writing and reasoning activities for Years 3–6.
? Neurodivergent Learners
A calmer interface and accessibility options designed with sensory and attention differences in mind.
? Home Learning
Short practice sessions that can complement schoolwork, homework and independent revision.
? Revision & Preparation
Additional practice for spelling, maths fluency, times tables and Key Stage 2 learning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spell Step UK
What age is Spell Step UK for?
Spell Step UK is designed primarily for children aged approximately 4–11, covering Reception through Year 6 and both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 learning.
Is Spell Step UK a spelling app?
Yes. Spelling is one of the core areas of Spell Step UK. Children can practise curriculum-linked spelling words through several interactive activities, with learning progress used to help identify words that need further practice.
Does Spell Step UK include phonics?
The spelling and reading areas include phonics-related learning and grapheme-phoneme work, particularly within the earlier primary learning stages.
Can Spell Step UK help with times tables?
Yes. Maths Step includes multiplication and division practice, including multiplication-table learning. It can be used as additional practice for children working towards fluency in their times tables.
Is Spell Step UK useful for Year 4 times tables practice?
Yes. Year 4 children can use the maths activities for additional multiplication and division practice. The English Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check tests fluent recall of multiplication tables up to 12 × 12.
Is Spell Step UK suitable for autistic children?
Spell Step UK has been designed with neurodivergent-friendly principles in mind, including calmer colour themes, predictable routines, reduced visual pressure and accessibility settings. It is not a medical or therapeutic product.
Is Spell Step UK suitable for children with ADHD?
The app includes short learning activities, structured routines and reduced visual pressure that may be helpful for children who prefer shorter, clearly defined learning tasks.
Is Spell Step UK dyslexia friendly?
Spell Step UK includes accessibility features within its reading experience, including dyslexia-friendly presentation preferences, adjustable text sizing and line spacing.
Does Spell Step UK work offline?
The app’s core learning and progress architecture is designed around local on-device storage, allowing children to continue learning without depending on a constant internet connection.
Can more than one child use Spell Step UK?
Yes. Spell Step UK supports separate child profiles so learning progress can be kept separately for different children.
When will Spell Step UK be available?
Spell Step UK is currently in development and will be announced here when the app is ready for release.
Take the Next Step with Spell Step UK
Give your child a calm, structured and rewarding way to practise spelling, phonics, maths, times tables, reading, writing, emotional learning and thinking skills.
Built for primary-aged children. Designed with neurodivergent-friendly learning in mind. Developed for families looking for a different kind of educational app.
Spell Step UK – Coming SoonFollow this website for launch information and availability.
Spell Step UK is an independent educational app. References to the English National Curriculum, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check and SATs describe the assessment context in England and do not imply endorsement by the Department for Education.
Try Spell Step
Ready to explore more spelling activities? Discover the full app for additional daily practice or visit one of our other pages :
? Download Spell Step on Google Play
? Return to the Spell Step Homepage
? Try the Year 4 Times Table Practice Game
? Play Unscrambled
? Download Free spelling sheets
? Try Spelling app for Kids
? Really Popular Look, Cover, Write, Check Worksheets
? Create Custom Spelling Worksheets
? Print Spelling Worksheets
? The Year 4 Multiplication Practise pp
? Read more about our curriculum in Let’s Play Spelling