iOS - US keyboard layout with UK spelling

You can configure the language of the iPad Dictionary and Thesaurus independently of the keyboard layout.

Settings > General > Dictionary - select English (UK) for both Spelling and Thesaurus (they are separate items in the list) - and optionally the Apple dictionary.

Din’t forget to deselect English (US).

I hope this helpfully resolves any difficulties with your chosen language settings.

Spelling follows the keyboard in iOS. Could you post a screen shot of what your screen keyboard looks like with the English UK version active?

LotusPilot wrote:

That is precisely what the iPad is using for its spellcheck!

So when you are using the US English keyboard and have only the British English Dictionary checked, typing "labor" will be corrected to "labour" or otherwise shown to be wrongly spelled? It doesn't seem to work for me. Typing "labour" will get corrected to "labor". (But I am still on iOS 13 at the moment).

LotusPilot wrote:

Settings > General > Dictionary - select English (UK) for both Spelling and Thesaurus (they are separate items in the list)

I don't think that Dictionary plays any role in spellcheck, it is just for looking up definitions. Or have you found otherwise?

That is precisely what the iPad is using for its spellcheck!