“Reading is important. If you know how to read, then the whole world opens up to you.”

Barack Obama

 

What is Phonics? 

Phonics is one of the ways that we teach children to read. Phonics works by breaking words down into their individual sounds. Sounds can be made by one letter or a group of letters. In school we call sounds PHONEMES. When we write sounds using letter shapes, these are called GRAPHEMES.

 

Through our teaching of Phonics, we aim to: 

• Deliver direct teaching in frequent, short bursts

• Adopt a consistent approach throughout the school

• Ensure a secure, systematic progression

• Maintain pace of learning

• Provide repeated practice throughout the day

• Apply our phonics learning using specially matched books

• Promptly identify children who are at risk of falling behind and provide effective keep-up support
   

 

How do we teach Phonics?

At Roe Farm Primary, we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to teach phonics.   Phonics is taught daily, in class groups, from Nursery to Year 2. Outside of the class Phonics session, additional keep up support takes place for children who are not progressing at the expected rate and who require further support to secure their understanding of Phonics. 

 

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provide a ‘For parents’ area on their website, which you can access by following the link below:

 

https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

 

We encourage all parents to read the information on the Little Wandle parents page and to watch the videos which support with the correct pronunciation of sounds.

 

By following this link, you will also be able to access our progression map, which details the order that we teach the various sounds.

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What is the Phonics Screening Check?

At the end of Year 1, children undertake a statutory assessment called the ‘Year 1 Phonics Screening Check’. This takes place in June and is undertaken by your child’s Teacher. The Phonics Screening Check assesses your child’s phonic knowledge and how well they can apply the sounds they know to read both real and nonsense words.

 

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