Phonics 

Throughout EYFS and KS1, Phonics is taught using the Read Write Inc. Programme.

The programme follows a clear structure so that every day, children are learning about the sounds letters make, how to read (blending and segmenting words), spelling patterns, reading fluency and comprehension. Children are grouped and taught at the right pace and level for them.

This programme prepares the children for their phonics screening check at the end of Year 1. We continue to teach in this way until teachers decide their children are ready to move on to a more detailed reading approach (during Year 2).

Reading

Reading is a fundamental skill for our children. The curriculum is designed to enable children to develop their reading skills. All lessons across the curriculum should incorporate elements of reading. Teachers plan their English lessons based upon high quality challenging texts and novels, many of which link to the topics the children are studying. 

Whole class reading sessions are introduced at the end of Year 2 (when children are ready for these) and continue in Years 3 to 6. This allows children to continue to develop their reading skills and exposes them to increasingly complex extracts and complete texts. The structure of our week's reading lessons can be viewed below:

Individual reading takes place regularly at our school, with the children who are less confident with reading receiving individual reading sessions daily. Children from Years 1-6 have access to thousands of online book through MyON. These link with the Accelerated Reader Program which is used to assess children's understanding and to ensure that children are reading books of an appropriate level. All children have access to our well stocked school library. This allows them the freedom to make text choices related to their own interests.

Phonics & Early Reading

Throughout EYFS and KS1, Phonics is taught using the Read Write Inc. Programme. This programme is continued in KS2 for those children who require it to support their progression.

The programme follows clear and cohesive structure.  The children learn 150+ graphemes that represent 44 speech sounds and these sounds are progressively taught and consolidated every day. During the lesson, the children learn about the sounds that the letters make, how to read these sounds both individually and in words (blending and segmenting), spelling patterns, reading fluency and comprehension. The children are grouped across EYFS, KS1 and lower KS2 and taught at the right pace and level for them.

This programme not only teaches the children to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension, but it also helps to prepare them for their phonics, screening check at the end of Year 1. We continue to teach in this way until teachers decide that the children are ready to move onto a more complex, reading approach.

Every child will receive a home reading book to bring home and share with you. Please listen to your child read every night and then fill in their reading diary with a comment about how they have read. Your support at home is crucial in aiding the children’s progress. The children will bring home weekly spellings linked to the sounds that they have learnt in class, and they will be tested on these weekly to support their progress in the classroom.