Phonics and Early Reading

We firmly believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching as early as possible and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

What is phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and spell quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to:

• Recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
• Identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’
• Blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
• Children can then use this knowledge to ‘decode’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read.

We model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

“A love of reading is the biggest indicator of future academic success.”

OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

How We Teach Phonics

To find out more, please visit the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised link ‘How we teach phonics’ for further information.

✅ Daily phonics lessons in Reception & Year 1
✅ Small group reading sessions led by trained adults
✅ Keep-up support for children who need extra practice
✅ Catch-up phonics for older pupils who need additional support

Supporting your child with reading

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 book that your child will bring home:

A reading practice book:

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. The teacher has already read this book with your child in their group reading sessions.  If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – they should be able to read 95% of the words – 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 – but avoid turning it into a test.

A sharing book:

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The desire of wanting to read will help with the skill of reading.  The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you from the classroom or school library to enjoy together.  Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. These books offer a wealth of opportunities for talking about the pictures and enjoying the story. It is important to offer a variety of books, including non-fiction, so they can enjoy a range of writing. 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!

A short video with further information can be found at the link ‘Reading books with your child’

Click on the link ‘Books coming home’ to view the video.

Our phonics programme

Across our Federation, we believe that learning to read is a fundamental skill that unlocks a child’s potential. Our structured phonics and early reading programme ensures that all children, regardless of their background, prior experience, or stage of learning, receive high-quality teaching to develop fluency, comprehension, and a love for reading.

Why is Little Wandle Letters and Sounds an effective scheme?

Little Wandle is a Department for Education approved Systematic, Synthetic Phonics programme (SSP) and we believe it is a programme that is best suited to the needs of our children for many reasons.  

Alongside the technique of ‘sounding out’ new words, we actively encourage the learning of words from memory.  Within our phonics planning, we teach children the high frequency words and common exception words. We refer to these sight words as our ‘tricky words’. 

Little Wandle also puts a strong emphasis on fluency and comprehension.  Children are given opportunities to apply what they have learnt in daily phonics sessions through group reading with the teacher three times a week, with a book that is matched to their ability.  The book is then taken home the following week so parents can practice fluency reading at home.

Measuring Progress

📌 Children’s progress is monitored regularly through assessments and phonics screening checks.
📌 Additional support is provided for children who need extra help to develop their reading Phonics Screening Test 

The Phonic Screening Check for our year 1 pupils is set to take place in June.

At the end of Year 1 children are assessed using the National Phonics Screening Test and this is repeated for those who did not achieve the appropriate level at the end of Year 2. This assessment gathers information on the children’s ability to blend and segment decodable words to read.

In Year 2 – The children may or may not have passed. This information is carried to year 2 where we ensure the children are supported. We identify gaps and provide extra group work to support these children daily. Some children pass but may still need confidence building or help to apply their knowledge to their writing. All children are taught phase 6 which is a focus on spelling- prefix, suffix, spelling rules, compound words, past tense etc. The children who did not pass the check will get the chance to take it again in June.

After Year 2- Some children may still need support with their reading, writing and confidence in this area. Teachers communicate the children’s needs and parents are informed on progress. Children will be part of our provision map to ensure support carefully matches their needs and quickly diminishes the difference and closes the gap in attainment.

Reading for Pleasure

We believe that developing a love for reading is just as important as teaching phonics and early reading skills. Reading for pleasure enhances children's imagination, vocabulary, and comprehension while fostering a lifelong passion for books.

We encourage reading for enjoyment by:

📚 Reading to children every day – Teachers share a variety of high-quality books, including classic stories, contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Through engaging storytelling, we introduce children to rich vocabulary, diverse themes, and different writing styles.

🏡 Encouraging home reading with decodable books – Every child takes home a carefully selected book matched to their phonics ability, ensuring they experience success and build confidence. In addition, children borrow books to enjoy with their families, helping to create a reading culture at home. Parents are supported with guidance on how to make reading an enjoyable, shared experience.

🌍 Offering a diverse range of books that reflect different cultures and experiences – Our school library and classroom book corners include books that represent the lives and backgrounds of all children, as well as those that offer windows into new and exciting worlds. By ensuring representation and inclusivity in our reading materials, we encourage empathy, understanding, and curiosity.

🎉 Hosting special reading events, author visits, and book fairs – We celebrate reading through World Book Day, themed reading weeks, storytelling sessions, and guest author visits. These experiences help children see reading as fun, interactive, and inspiring. Book fairs provide opportunities for children to explore and choose new books, further developing their enthusiasm for reading.

📖 Creating engaging reading spaces – Each classroom has a carefully curated reading corner, filled with inviting books that spark curiosity. Areas around school that offer welcoming space where children can explore books, take part in storytelling sessions, and develop independent reading habits.

🔎 Encouraging student-led reading initiatives – Older pupils are encouraged to become reading buddies, supporting younger children in their reading journey. We also involve students in selecting books for their classrooms, ensuring they feel ownership and excitement about their reading choices.

By nurturing a love for reading alongside structured phonics instruction, we help children develop a lifelong appreciation for literature, creativity, and learning.

Parental Involvement

We value the important role parents play in supporting early reading. To strengthen this partnership, we provide:

📢 Resources and Workshops – Guides, tips, and workshops to help parents understand phonics and support learning at home.

📝 Home Reading Records – A way to track progress, encourage daily reading, and foster discussions between parents and teachers.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Reading Events – Opportunities for families to take part in storytelling sessions, reading mornings, and book-themed activities.

📚 Recommended Reading Lists & Online Support – Age-appropriate book lists and digital resources to make reading fun and engaging at home.

By working together, we can build strong reading habits and a lifelong love of books for every child!

Phonics and Early Reading

We firmly believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching as early as possible and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

What is phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and spell quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to:

• Recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
• Identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’
• Blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
• Children can then use this knowledge to ‘decode’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read.

We model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

“A love of reading is the biggest indicator of future academic success.”

OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

How We Teach Phonics

To find out more, please visit the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised link ‘How we teach phonics’ for further information.

✅ Daily phonics lessons in Reception & Year 1
✅ Small group reading sessions led by trained adults
✅ Keep-up support for children who need extra practice
✅ Catch-up phonics for older pupils who need additional support

Supporting your child with reading

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 book that your child will bring home:

A reading practice book:

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. The teacher has already read this book with your child in their group reading sessions.  If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – they should be able to read 95% of the words – 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 – but avoid turning it into a test.

A sharing book:

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The desire of wanting to read will help with the skill of reading.  The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you from the classroom or school library to enjoy together.  Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. These books offer a wealth of opportunities for talking about the pictures and enjoying the story. It is important to offer a variety of books, including non-fiction, so they can enjoy a range of writing. 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!

A short video with further information can be found at the link ‘Reading books with your child’

Click on the link ‘Books coming home’ to view the video.

Our phonics programme

Across our Federation, we believe that learning to read is a fundamental skill that unlocks a child’s potential. Our structured phonics and early reading programme ensures that all children, regardless of their background, prior experience, or stage of learning, receive high-quality teaching to develop fluency, comprehension, and a love for reading.

Why is Little Wandle Letters and Sounds an effective scheme?

Little Wandle is a Department for Education approved Systematic, Synthetic Phonics programme (SSP) and we believe it is a programme that is best suited to the needs of our children for many reasons.  

Alongside the technique of ‘sounding out’ new words, we actively encourage the learning of words from memory.  Within our phonics planning, we teach children the high frequency words and common exception words. We refer to these sight words as our ‘tricky words’. 

Little Wandle also puts a strong emphasis on fluency and comprehension.  Children are given opportunities to apply what they have learnt in daily phonics sessions through group reading with the teacher three times a week, with a book that is matched to their ability.  The book is then taken home the following week so parents can practice fluency reading at home.

Measuring Progress

📌 Children’s progress is monitored regularly through assessments and phonics screening checks.
📌 Additional support is provided for children who need extra help to develop their reading Phonics Screening Test 

The Phonic Screening Check for our year 1 pupils is set to take place in June.

At the end of Year 1 children are assessed using the National Phonics Screening Test and this is repeated for those who did not achieve the appropriate level at the end of Year 2. This assessment gathers information on the children’s ability to blend and segment decodable words to read.

In Year 2 – The children may or may not have passed. This information is carried to year 2 where we ensure the children are supported. We identify gaps and provide extra group work to support these children daily. Some children pass but may still need confidence building or help to apply their knowledge to their writing. All children are taught phase 6 which is a focus on spelling- prefix, suffix, spelling rules, compound words, past tense etc. The children who did not pass the check will get the chance to take it again in June.

After Year 2- Some children may still need support with their reading, writing and confidence in this area. Teachers communicate the children’s needs and parents are informed on progress. Children will be part of our provision map to ensure support carefully matches their needs and quickly diminishes the difference and closes the gap in attainment.

Reading for Pleasure

We believe that developing a love for reading is just as important as teaching phonics and early reading skills. Reading for pleasure enhances children's imagination, vocabulary, and comprehension while fostering a lifelong passion for books.

We encourage reading for enjoyment by:

📚 Reading to children every day – Teachers share a variety of high-quality books, including classic stories, contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Through engaging storytelling, we introduce children to rich vocabulary, diverse themes, and different writing styles.

🏡 Encouraging home reading with decodable books – Every child takes home a carefully selected book matched to their phonics ability, ensuring they experience success and build confidence. In addition, children borrow books to enjoy with their families, helping to create a reading culture at home. Parents are supported with guidance on how to make reading an enjoyable, shared experience.

🌍 Offering a diverse range of books that reflect different cultures and experiences – Our school library and classroom book corners include books that represent the lives and backgrounds of all children, as well as those that offer windows into new and exciting worlds. By ensuring representation and inclusivity in our reading materials, we encourage empathy, understanding, and curiosity.

🎉 Hosting special reading events, author visits, and book fairs – We celebrate reading through World Book Day, themed reading weeks, storytelling sessions, and guest author visits. These experiences help children see reading as fun, interactive, and inspiring. Book fairs provide opportunities for children to explore and choose new books, further developing their enthusiasm for reading.

📖 Creating engaging reading spaces – Each classroom has a carefully curated reading corner, filled with inviting books that spark curiosity. Areas around school that offer welcoming space where children can explore books, take part in storytelling sessions, and develop independent reading habits.

🔎 Encouraging student-led reading initiatives – Older pupils are encouraged to become reading buddies, supporting younger children in their reading journey. We also involve students in selecting books for their classrooms, ensuring they feel ownership and excitement about their reading choices.

By nurturing a love for reading alongside structured phonics instruction, we help children develop a lifelong appreciation for literature, creativity, and learning.

Parental Involvement

We value the important role parents play in supporting early reading. To strengthen this partnership, we provide:

📢 Resources and Workshops – Guides, tips, and workshops to help parents understand phonics and support learning at home.

📝 Home Reading Records – A way to track progress, encourage daily reading, and foster discussions between parents and teachers.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Reading Events – Opportunities for families to take part in storytelling sessions, reading mornings, and book-themed activities.

📚 Recommended Reading Lists & Online Support – Age-appropriate book lists and digital resources to make reading fun and engaging at home.

By working together, we can build strong reading habits and a lifelong love of books for every child!