Phonics

We know that phonics provides children with key skills that support the successful development of reading and writing and confident access to the wider curriculum. Phonics is taught daily in Reception and Year One and children receive repeated practice and application opportunities using matched decodable books. We use early identification of children at risk of falling behind and use this to implement effective keep up support. We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds a complete Systematic Synthetic Phonics Program. The link below provides support and further information for parents www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

Reading

We know that enjoyment of reading is a key indicator for success in future life. High quality texts are purposefully selected and placed at the core of the curriculum so that children build their confidence and love of reading overtime. Reading across the curriculum is planned for and texts are selected to deepen understanding around key concepts and knowledge. Our book corners are curated and contain high quality texts and recommended authors. Children will experience reading across the curriculum and be read to as well as read every day. Each year group has a book canon identifying core books that the children will work with, read or be read and know well by the end of each year.

Writing

Children are taught to spell using the Little Wandle Systematic Synthetic Phonics Program. Spelling knowledge continues in Key Stage 2 using the Babcock ‘No nonsense spelling program’ Children will be taught a cursive letter formation and will be taught to join letters at the end of Year 1 and throughout Year 2.

As children’s ability to identify sounds in words develops in reception, we use talk for writing to encourage children to speak and rehearse what they want to write before asking them to write. We use contexts such as the wider curriculum, a children’s book, painting or event to support children to plan what they want to write and generate ideas. Older children will use these contexts for writing across a variety of genres such as report writing, narratives, letters and diaries to explore and further develop sentence construction, grammar and effective writing for different audiences.

For more information about the English curriculum, please contact the school.