Phonics and Early Reading
" Learning to read is like learning to run. The more you practise, the faster you become. So, practise once a day, and then head out and .... Play, play, play. "
(Sophie Carter)
EARLY READING AND PHONICS STATEMENT OF INTENT
At South View Community Primary School, reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We believe that reading is key for academic success and progress in a number of curriculum areas.
Our reading curriculum is designed and taught to ensure all children:
- Develop the skills necessary to read with fluency, accuracy, and expression.
- Foster a real love and thirst of reading, for both pleasure and information.
- Read widely and often, acquiring a wide vocabulary they would rarely hear or use in their every day lives.
- Obtain skills necessary to understand the deeper meaning of texts.
- Gain knowledge across the curriculum.
At South View, we teach early reading and phonics (letter sounds) using the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme.
Who is Read Write Inc for?
The Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme is for primary school children learning to read. We use this programme for children in Foundation Stage through to Key Stage 2.
Read Write Inc. enables every child to become a confident and fluent reader.
Using the RWI method:
- Children in the early years learn to read confidently and fluently.
- Older children with reading difficulties make fast progress.
- Children with specific learning difficulties learn to read.
- Children are assessed regularly, ensuring that they work with other children at the same level as themselves. This allows them to take full part in all lessons. They work closely with their partner, answering questions and practising activities with their partner.
- Children learn to say the 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts.
- They learn to read words using sound blending.
- The children learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds. They learn to write words by saying sounds and graphemes. The children write ability appropriate sentences and compose stories based on picture strips. They are encouraged to use their ‘Fred fingers’ in their independent writing activities.
- RWI is a systematic and lively programme and is organised by the Reading Leaders in the school. All the staff have been trained in delivering RWI and staff receive regular updates and training.
- In Early Years Foundation Stage children have daily RWI sessions. In Key Stage 1 children read and write for one hour each day, grouped according to their reading level. In Key Stage 2 some children still require phonics teaching and are grouped according to their reading level. These children receive a daily 30-minute RWI intervention.
Click here for a useful guide for parents that will support you when helping your child at home.
If you require further information, please access RWI FAQ’s by clicking here.