Phonics Scheme

From Nursery onwards, we use the Read Write Inc synthetic phonics scheme which teaches the English alphabetic code. Children learn one way to read the 40+ sounds and blend these sounds into words.

Daily phonics sessions in EYFS and KS1 teach children strategies to accurately segment and decode to both read and spell.

Decoding- the ability to apply knowledge of letter-sound relationships to correctly pronounce familiar and unfamiliar written words.
E.g. recognising ‘c’ makes a /c/

Blending- the process of using phonics to read. Identifying and synthesising the phonemes in order to make a word.
E.g. w-i-th blended together reads with.

Segmenting- the process of using phonics for writing. Listening to a whole word and breaking it into its constituent phonemes, choosing appropriate graphemes to represent each phoneme.
E.g. ship can be segmenting as sh-i-p.

It is really important that children make the sounds correctly, in order to be able to blend them in to words.  This video is useful as a guide:

Alongside the sounds we learn ‘red’ words which are words which occur frequently but can’t yet be decoded using the child’s current phonic knowledge e.g. ‘want’ or ‘the’.

Once children are secure with the first set of sounds, they learn to read the same sounds with alternative graphemes alongside learning more high frequency words. For example, they will learn that ir/ur and er all make the same sound in a word.

Reading books and home learning

Our reading scheme supports children’s progress by carefully matching books to their growing phonic and red word knowledge.  We recognise the huge difference parents can make in their child’s education and value the support you provide at home.  At every step of the way we will send home reading activities for your child to do.  

Assessment

Assessment

Children’s knowledge is carefully monitored, with the aim to plug any gaps as quickly as possible; keep-up rather than catch-up.  They are more formally assessed every half term to ensure they are secure with the sounds learned so far.  

Children’s knowledge is carefully monitored, with the aim to plug any gaps as quickly as possible; keep-up rather than catch-up.  They are more formally assessed every half term to ensure they are secure with the sounds learned so far.  

Further Information

Each year we hold phonics information evenings for parents in EYFS and KS1.  If parents have questions about their child’s phonics progress at any time then the class teachers will be very happy to help.

Our Library Provision:

 Our provision in EYFS and KS1 consists of the following structure:

Read Write Inc
Book Bag Books
to develop phonics skills
and word reading

Fully decodable texts organised with increasing phonetic challenge, mirroring graphemes taught
within Read Write Inc.

Star Banded

to develop comprehension
and reading for meaning

Texts composed of decodable, red words and book specific words suitable for reading at an instructional level. Inclusion of red words mirrors tuition.

Treasure Books
to develop a love
of books

Texts with the sole purpose of
encouraging a ‘love of reading’. These books are to be shared with family members as bedtime stories, cosy
moments or to simply
enjoy.

Book Band Colours

Our books are structured using the following colours.