How we teach phonics
- In our nursery, the children take part in daily sessions which prepare them with the foundations for phonics. This phase supports the importance of speaking and listening and develops children’s discrimination of sounds, including letter sounds. This phase is all about getting children to listen to sounds around them, including environmental and instrumental sounds. They will also begin learning about rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. The focus is on daily oral blending and language development through high quality stories and rhymes.
- In reception and Y1, children follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday.
- Phonics starts in reception in week 2 to ensure the children make a strong start.
- 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, lessons are taught daily to children where appropriate – following the model of Little Wandle but plugging specific gaps identified through assessment.
- For any children who are at risk of 'falling behind', ‘keep-up’ sessions are delivered following a set model, to address specific reading/writing gaps. These are short, sharp sessions lasting 10 minutes in length and taking place at least three times a week.
Reading practice sessions
- Children across reception, year 1 and year 2 apply their phonics knowledge by reading fully matched decodable boks in small group and individual reading practice sessions.
- Children will read books in a progressive sequence until they can decode unfamiliar words confidently.
Supporting your child with reading at home
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
There are two types of reading books that your child may bring home:
A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independetly.
A sharing book. Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading practice book
- This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
- Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing book
- In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
- Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!
If you would like any additonal information on Little Wandles Letters and Sounds Revised, please use the following link:https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
The resources on this page will help you support your child with saying their phonemes (sounds) and writing their graphemes (letters). There are also useful videos so you can see how your child is taught at school, to be able to confidently support their reading at home.