Phonics and early reading

Phonics - Little Wandle Letters and Sounds 

We teach our children to read using the Ofsted approved and DfE validated Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.  This draws on the latest research into how children learn best; how to ensure learning stays in children’s long-term memory and how best to enable children to apply their learning to become highly competent readers. A prime focus for us is to instil and develop a love of reading for all learners.

All the children from Reception to Year 2 are assessed and then grouped to ensure that their phonics teaching is pitched at exactly the right level for each child.  There will be daily phonics lessons and three guided reading sessions per week.  The book that the children take home, will be the book that they have read that week in their guided reading group.

If you would like more information on how we teach phonics, for instance the way that we pronounce each letter sound please go to the dedicated phonics page here

Children will be able to access three types of reading book at home:

A reading practice ebook. This will be at the correct phonic stage which children should be able to read fluently and independently.

Reading For Pleasure sharing books.  The children will not be able to read these on their own. They are books for child and parent to read and enjoy together. In order to encourage children to become lifelong readers, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure.  The children will visit the Library once a week and be able to choose a book that appeals to them.  This could be fiction or non-fiction.  They will also be able to pick their favourite story book from the selection of recommended reading books that the children have access to in their class.

Library books.  The children will have access to the library every week.  The children choose a book from the library to take home with them.  They can keep this book for a week.  They then bring it back and swap it for a new book.

Here is a video to show how you can support your children with reading at home.