Reading and Phonics
ELS - Essential Letters and Sounds
We aim to have all children reading by age 6, so all pupils participate in discrete phonics lessons following the ‘Essential Letters and Sounds’ programme, from Early Years and into Key Stage 1.
Our phonics curriculum provides all children with quality first teaching of phonics through a highly structured and systematic approach. We teach synthetic phonics through fast-paced sessions that include opportunities to revisit prior learning and apply new phonic knowledge. At all stages, pupils read books closely matched to their developing phonic knowledge.
From the outset, pupils who are not meeting age-related expectations are quickly identified and receive regular intervention to enable them to make progress. In the Summer Term of Year 1, pupils are assessed using the Phonics Screening Check. For children who do not pass the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1, intervention programmes will be put in place as they transition to Year 2. At the end of KS1, pupils who continue to work below age-related expectations will be supported further in the acquisition of their phonic knowledge through intervention in Y3 and beyond.
Teachers continue to reinforce the application of phonic knowledge and skills as the route to decoding words until this has become embedded and reading is fluent. When pupils join our school at different stages in their development of phonic knowledge, we quickly identify the appropriate level for them to be working at and provide intervention accordingly.
Our vision for all pupils is that they will develop the necessary decoding and spelling skills that they require to become confident readers and writers by the end of Year 2, enabling them to engage fully with the wider curriculum as they progress through school and into the future.
Information and Support for parents/carers
From the start of Reception, you can help your child to recognise and practise saying the letters sounds they have been learning at school and begin to blend these sounds together to read words. You can find resources to help you by following this link to the OXFORD OWL for Home website
Essential Letters and Sounds - Oxford Owl
You can also speak to your child's class teacher if you require further advice. Parents/cares of Reception pupils will be invited to attend phonics sessions in school, so they can experience a typical Essential Letters and Sounds lesson.
Reading at Home
Your child will bring books to 'share with you at home' from Nursery age. They will chooses a book to read, their 'enjoyment book', which is one they may particularly like and want to read time and time again. This is vital from a young age.
In addition to this, from Reception, your child will bring home a decodable phonic book which is matched to their phonic ability at each stage of learning. We ask that you listen to and support your child in reading this book at least four times each week at home.
Learning to read takes lots of practise. Your child will cover the sounds and spellings at school but the time you spend reading with them is worth every minute. Check out the free eBook library using this link:
Free eBook library - practise reading with phonics eBooks - Oxford Owl
There are lots of titles to be read at home, as well as suggestions for things you can do at home to encourage your child to be the best reader they can possibly be.
Information for Year 1 Parents - Phonics Screening Check
Follow this link to find out more about the phonics check your child will complete in their final term in Year 1.
Preparing for the phonics screening check - Oxford Owl for Home
Recommended websites for Phonics Games:
Early Reading and Phonics Policy
sa policy early reading and phonics policy.pdf