Teaching our children to read and Phonics

We use the scheme Little Wandle LETTERS AND SOUNDS, from Acorn Pre-School to Year 4. Our children achieve outcomes higher than national averages. The Little Wandle website explains in detail the way we teach phonics. Please use the link below. 

LW Website

Children across the school have a daily phonics lesson. During each lesson children will revisit known GPCs, read words that they have seen before, read tricky words and usually a new GPC will be taught. Children will practise reading words with the new GPC, they read a sentence in each lesson and have a go at doing some writing in every lesson. 

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 have a reading book matched to their reading level and they will read this book in school 3 times a week focusing on different elements of reading including fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Children learn to read with prosody (meaning reading aloud with expression) and this is modelled in reading sessions with adults. Once the children have read this book in school it will be sent home and this will become their home reading book for the following week. It is likely that your child will be able to read the book confidently which is exactly what our hope is. They should be consolidating what they have learnt in school and celebrating their confidence in their reading. 

Children in Year 1 take the Phonics Screening Check in June each year. This check is a statutory assessment for every child in Year 1. Children will be asked to read 40 words, 20 real words and 20 'alien' words. Little Wandle planning gives children opportunities to familiarise themselves with reading alien words before the screening check. 

Once children have learnt and remembered all of the GPCs, they move on to spelling in Year 2 and begin reading 'fluency books' which are still linked to the Little Wandle scheme. These books are short chapter books and prepare the children to read all kinds of texts as they get older. 

Regular parent workshops are planned in across the year to share information around what your child is learning in school. These dates will be shared with parents as and when they are planned.