Phonics
Intent
Earlham is a successful and well established ‘Read Write Inc’ school. Systematic synthetic phonics is scientifically supported as the approach which most effectively caters to the needs of all students. At Earlham, we combine systematic synthetic phonics with explicit instruction to ensure our pupils gain the knowledge and skills required for reading, spelling and writing. We want all our pupils to begin their journey to read with confidence and to develop a lifetime love of reading.
Implementation
What is Read Write Inc?
Read Write Inc (RWI) is a systematic synthetic phonics programme which helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. In RWI phonics the individual sounds are called ‘speed sounds’. Set 1 sounds are the initial letter sounds e.g. m, a, s, d, t. Set 2 and 3 sounds are made up of two or three letters which represent one sound, e.g. ee as in seen and igh as in light. Children will also be taught that there are more ways in which the same sounds are written, e.g. ay as in day and a-e as in make.
The speed sounds are taught in the following order together with rhymes to help children form the letters correctly and instantly recognise sounds ready for blending and segmenting.
How is RWI taught at Earlham?
Phonics teaching begins in a playful way in our Nursery classes through a variety of games, songs and rhymes which encourages careful listening. As children become more confident, they begin to notice and discuss written print and letters in their environment taking opportunities to talk about letters and sounds they may recognise such as the letters in their name. When children are ready we teach set 1 sounds to fully prepare children for their Reception phonics learning.
Phonics is taught to all children in Reception, Year 1 and those in Year 2 who have not passed the phonics screening check in Year 1. We teach phonics for 30 minutes every day. Children are taught in small ability based groups.
Aspects of the Phonics curriculum are embedded in learning within the provision of SEND learning to ensure that all children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum.
Children learn to:
- Decode letter-sound correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic knowledge and skills
- Read common exception words (red words) on sight
- Understand what they read
- Read aloud with fluency and expression
- Write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
- Spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
- Learn letter formation and handwriting skills
Assessment and monitoring
Children are assessed regularly to ensure they are making expected progress and being taught in the most appropriate ability group. Groups follow the same plans and routines, so children can transition to different groups smoothly. Progress is carefully monitored by teachers and those children not making expected progress are identified and 1:1 phonics interventions are put in place to help them catch up. New arrivals to the school or country in Ks2 also receive tailored and age-appropriate phonics instruction if needed, to enable them to access the curriculum as soon as possible.
Training and Support
Phonics groups are taught by class teachers and teaching assistants. All adults who teach a phonics group have received Read Write Inc training. We ensure our phonics teaching remains precise and engaging through weekly CPD sessions with our Phonics Lead and regular development days with our Read Write Inc consultant. In addition to this, all staff have access to training videos and additional support materials via the Ruth Miskin school portal.
Parent and carer engagement
We encourage and support our parents and carers to work with their children on their phonics journey. In Reception parents are invited to come into school ona weekly basis for Family Fridays, where they join their child's phonics lesson, learn the sounds with them, and can then read with their child at home and support them to do their phonics homework.
We love inviting our parents in to work with us on strategies to support reading at home. As well as our Early Years Family Fridays, we hold regular workshops on phonics and on reading for pleasure, to share ideas on how parents can help their child to practice and improve their reading. We support our children to learn to read and - just as importantly - to love reading and know why it is so important. But don't just take our word for this - here's what they say!
Impact
Phonics has a high priority throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Key Stage 1. Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our children become confident and fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1 and go on to further develop as confident readers who can access all areas of learning across the curriculum, with a life-long love of reading.