Phonics and Reading
Welcome to our curriculum page for Reading. On this page you will find a wide range of information as to how we teach phonics and reading at Templemoor, as well as valuable resources that you can use to help to support phonics and reading at home.
Reading EYFS Development Matters and the KS1 National Curriculum
The EYFS Framework and National Curriculum for Reading can be found below
We use the Read, Write Inc. Phonics Scheme to teach reading.
Learning to read is the most important thing your child will learn at our school. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possibly can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible regardless of background, needs or abilities. Children are immersed in books from the moment they enter school and reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We are dedicated to enabling children to become lifelong readers. We want your child to love reading – and to want to read for themselves. This is why we put our efforts into making sure that children develop a love of reading as well as simply learning to read.
The video below provides a great introduction to what phonics is, and why your child is learning to read with phonics using the Read, Write, Inc. scheme. Please click on the Read, Write, Inc. logo to find out even more about the scheme that we use, as well as ways in which you can support phonics and reading at home.
How will my child be taught to read?
In Nursery our children develop a love of reading through enticing story and poetry times. Children are immersed in role play, discussion, building sentences and rich vocabulary.
Structured daily phonics lessons begin in Reception. This means that children learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down. This is essential for reading, but it also helps children learn to spell well. We teach the children simple ways of remembering these sounds and letters. Ask them to show you what these are.
The children also practise reading (and spelling) tricky words (we call them Red Words), such as ‘once,’ ‘have,’ ‘said’ and ‘where’.
The children practise their reading with books that match the phonics and the red words they know. They start thinking that they can read and this does wonders for their confidence.
High quality story times are planned each day so the children get to enjoy a range of exciting stories, poetry and information books. They learn many more words this way and it also helps to develop their writing.
How are the Read, Write, Inc. sessions organised?
Children are usually split into groups across their year group and have a daily Read, Write, Inc. lesson. Children usually work through the scheme by the end of the second term in Year Two. Children then move onto reading a range of book banded books. By the end of Year 2 we aim for the majority of children to become fluent readers.
Phonics Teaching
All our staff have been trained to teach phonics and reading following the Read, Write, Inc. Phonics Scheme. We believe that it is very important that all the teachers and teaching assistants work in the same way. Weekly coaching sessions, using a Read, Write, Inc. training portal ensures that staff have up to date knowledge and skills of how to teach the programme.
How will I know how well my child is doing?
Children are assessed and grouped according to their phonic knowledge every six weeks. Ongoing assessment means that groups can be adjusted to ensure the best possible progress for each child. Each child reads books that best matches their phonic knowledge. Assessment quickly identifies any child who is falling behind the programme’s pace so that targeted support can be given immediately. In the summer term, the government asks us to do a phonics check of all the Year 1 children. Further information about the check can be found at the bottom of this page.
How will Read, Write, Inc. be taught?
We use pure sounds (‘m’ not’ muh’,’s’ not ‘suh’, etc.) so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.
At school we use a frog called Fred who is an expert on sounding out words! We call it, ‘Fred Talk’. E.g. m-o-p, c-a-t, m-a-n, sh-o-p, b-l-a-ck. When children can blend in their head (without sounding out each letter) we say they can 'Fred in their head'!
The children are taught the sounds in 3 sets. These sounds can be downloaded below:
Parent Tutorials
Watch our parent tutorial videos below to learn all about how to support your child as they learn with Read Write Inc., with detailed ideas and advice on pronouncing pure sounds, blending, and digraphs.
Confused about how to pronounce the sounds found in Read Write Inc. phonics? Worry not, as 5-year-old Sylvie is here to show you how! Use this guide to support your child when practising the sounds at home.
Learn step by step how to teach your child a set one sounds.
Learn the method for teaching children how to blend sounds to make words.
Reading for Pleasure
During daily story times our staff create a love of reading by reading aloud a range of stories, poems, rhymes and non-fiction that develop children’s vocabulary and language comprehension. All classes have their own libraries with a range of fiction and non-fiction books and children are encouraged to take books home regularly. Children also have regular visits from poets and authors to further inspire a love of reading.
Core Books
We further develop and actively promote reading and a love of reading through the schools Core Book approach.
Each Year group has been allocated a set of texts which they are encouraged to read together, read for pleasure and revisit time again. There are multiple copies of each chosen text across the classes. This ensures systematic exposure to a range of quality texts, authors and genre throughout their time at school. At Templemoor, Core Books become a common base of books which we all know well, our own little internal library to draw from! The list of Core Books available in each class can be dowloaded below.
Reading at Home
We value support in reading from our parents. Reading books are sent home when children are beginning to blend and are closely matched to children’s developing phonic knowledge. Children take home Read, Write, Inc. story books and matched Book Bag Books. Children then move on to carefully selected book banded books once they have finished the Read, Write, Inc. scheme.
We ask that children read for 10-15 minutes each day. Our reading books are changed weekly. Our Reading Framework can be downloaded below. This gives a guide as to what your child will be taking home at each stage of their reading journey.
Please remember that reading is not a race, it is a journey. Children learn at different rates just as they learn to walk and dress themselves. If children are rushed through books they will not achieve the enjoyment and understanding necessary. Books that children find too difficult will soon put them off reading.
Enjoy reading with your child and help them to become lifelong readers.
Things to Remember
1. Do hear your child read every day for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Little and often is more beneficial than a long session a week.
3. Do remember to sign your child's reading record.
Year 1 Phonic Screening Check
During the Summer term in Year 1, children nationwide are tested on their phonic knowledge. This test helps us to identify children who have gaps in their phonic knowledge and may need further support in Year 2. The test is low-key and we endeavour to make it stress-free for the children. Essentially, the children are asked to read 40 words from a list, using their phonics to ‘sound out’ the word and then blend it if they need to. Parents are informed as to whether their child has achieved the national expectation within the child’s end-of-year report.
Mrs Brown - Phonic Manager and English Lead
Our Phonic Manager is Mrs Brown. If you have any queries or would like to discuss our phonics programme further, please do not hesitate to contact us.