Our Approach to Phonics
When pupils first enter in Reception, they robustly follow the Read, Write, Inc. systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) scheme. This is followed until Year 2 and is taught progressively and with fidelity. Children, who are within Reception and KS1, are taught each day in small, teacher-led groups to learn sounds and reading skills according to their ability which is assessed each half term.
To ensure pupils retain their knowledge of phonemes and graphemes, they spend 45 minutes on this Systematic Synthetic Phonics programme, as well as revisiting sounds through an additional quick-fire ‘Speed Sounds’ session daily.
Pupils who are not keeping up with their peers undertake daily Fast Track Tutoring intervention support and where pupils have not yet mastered the English alphabetic code in upper Key Stage 2 they access the Fresh Start Programme to ensure they catch up quickly.
The Reading Leader oversees the teaching of the scheme by carrying out side-by-side coaching throughout the week. Teachers attend weekly training to ensure that their skills are constantly being developed.
Where needed, children will be given focused 1-2-1 (fast track tutoring) or small group support to help develop their knowledge of the sounds or word blending.
Useful Tips on How to encourage your child to read
Be a reader. Set a good example by reading yourself and reading to your child. Let your child see you value reading and see how important it is.
Value reading. Help your child keep their books in a special place; show them how to turn pages carefully.
Reading all around. Help your child to read words all around them – food packets, shop displays, on buses, in newspapers, leave a message in your child’s lunch box or school bag!
Fun with words Magnetic words/letters on the fridge – make words/messages together for others to read
Make time to read. Read a bedtime story with your child every night. Encourage them to share their reading with grandparents, brothers, sisters and other relatives.
Join the library. It is free and children love to choose books, you may be surprised by their interests.
Keep in touch with school. Try to make a regular time slot, about 10 minutes, to hear your child read to you. Change home reading books regularly.
How to help with reading
Be positive. Praise your child for trying hard with their reading. Let him/her know it is all right to make a few mistakes.
Build confidence. Learning to read is more successful if the child feels unafraid to try, how a child feels as a reader can help or hinder his/her success.
A quiet time together. Try to listen to your child read without any distractions – a quiet place in the house with no TV.
Prediction. Ask your child if he/she can tell you what the book might be about from the title. Make it an exciting time – ‘let’s find out what happens’
Finger pointing. With early reading books encourage them to point with their finger under each word as they read, once they are confident with this, let them follow the text with their eyes.
Again and again. Don’t worry if they want to read the same book many times, each time they read they are gaining confidence and understanding more.
Story voice. Try to encourage them to sound as though they are talking as they read – use a story voice – reading in phrases or sentences.
Give them time. Do not rush in, let them try to solve the word on their own first, then prompt to sound out or say the first letter of the word or split the word into smaller sections.
Don’t make them try too hard! It is ok to tell them the word sometimes.
Talk about the book. Ask questions and encourage your child to ask questions about what happens in the book. Answering questions will tell you how much your child has understood about the book.
Don’t read for too long! A good 10 minutes is better than a difficult half hour.
Comments Please comment in the reading journal on how well your child has read, how well they worked words out and if you talked about the story.
Make it fun! The more positive reading is for the child who is starting on the reading journey the better reader they will become.
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