Phonics
Intent
We believe that for all our children to become fluent readers and writers, phonics must be taught through a systematic and structured phonics programme. Therefore, we have implemented the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Programme to plan and provide daily engaging phonics lessons. In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching starts in Reception and follows a very specific sequence that allows our children to build on their previous phonic knowledge and master specific phonic strategies as they move through school. As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words that they might discover. We also model these strategies in shared reading and writing both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on the development of language skills for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.
Implementation
To ensure consistency, the school uses The Little Wandle Phonics Revised Programme as the basis for our phonics teaching.
- In Reception and Y1, children follow the progression within the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
- Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday. By the end of reception, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 4. By the end of year 1, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 5.
- In Y2-Y3 there are planned phonic sessions following a set model to address specific reading/writing gaps that may have occurred.
- Children continue to be assessed at phonics until they have met the Y1 expectations.
Reading practice sessions
- Children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 (and beyond if appropriate) apply their phonics knowledge by reading a fully matched decodable book in a small group reading practice session. These sessions are 15 minutes long and take place three times a week. There are approximately 6 children in a group. The sessions follow the model set out in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
- The children also have a fully matched decodable book, which they can take home to read. We encourage parents to read this book more than once to support comprehension. New books are sent home after a week when the children have access lessons that involve decoding, prodigy and comprehension.
- From Reception to Year 6 the children take part in a reading challenge, in which they choose one of 50 books to take home and read. Once read the book is returned and another book is chosen.
Impact
As a result of our Phonics teaching at Trinity CE Primary School you will see:
In Reception and Year 1, at the end of each week there is a review session which recaps the learning. There are also whole review weeks (pre-planned and bespoke review weeks to address gaps identified by the class teacher’s ongoing formative assessment). Children identified in Reception and Y1 as in danger of falling behind are provided with ‘keep up’ sessions which follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. In Reception and Year 1, the children are assessed at the end of every half term. The children in Y1 sit the Phonics Screening Check in the summer term. Children who do not pass the Phonics Screening Check in Y1, will re-sit this in Y2. Children who are in Y2-Y3 and have not achieved the expected level in phonics, receive phonics sessions and are assessed through teacher’s ongoing formative assessment as well as half termly summative assessments. Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One. This way, children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through KS2.
Phonics and Early Reading Policy
Please click here to read our Phonics and Early Reading Policy
Further details
Please visit the Little Wandle website for helpful videos that will enable you to support your child at home with saying their sounds, writing their letters and reading. Overview documents can also be found below.