Phonics

Intent

It is incredibly important that our Hook Norton children have the very best beginning to their reading learning. We aim for our children to quickly gain reading skills and gain confidence in their own reading abilities. This quick acquisition of skills and fluency through systematic teaching of synthetic phonics is essential in ensuring children develop a love of reading. It additionally provides children with the confidence to write, spell and use grammar correctly.

Implementation

We follow a rigorous and systematic approach to the teaching of phonics through the Read Write Inc phonics scheme. We have a consistent approach through Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1, and if necessary, beyond. In Early Years and Key Stage 1 our children participate and enjoy daily discrete phonics sessions teaching the sounds that letters make. The children are grouped according to their next steps in learning, with children that need additional support in smaller groups where possible. Our approach ensures consistent practice, continuity and progression in the teaching and learning of phonics. Our staff are highly trained and experienced in delivering our phonics programme and staff work together to develop phonics teaching. We regularly assess our children to ensure they are receiving a targeted, tailored phonics teaching programme and put in place additional sessions for those children that require further repetition and support.

Children apply their phonetic skills by decoding books in whole class Read Write Inc sessions, as well as by taking home the Read Write Inc Book Bag Books that carefully match the scheme and each child’s stage of learning. Children apply their phonetic skills to their writing in dictation exercises and editing sentences.

In Year 2 and Lower Key Stage 2 children receive discrete spelling lessons through the Read Write Inc Spelling scheme. This is in line with the National Curriculum expectations for spelling and includes dictation exercises, investigations of spelling patterns and focussed spelling activities. Several members of the Key Stage 2 are trained in delivering phonics and are able to use this in their teaching where necessary.

Impact

Our children are consistently and confidently able to apply their sounds to reading and spelling. Children that need additional support receive it and make progress, developing a secure knowledge of phonics. Children perform well above National Average in the Year 1 Statutory Phonics screening. Children apply spelling rules and grammar correctly as they move into Key Stage 2.