Phonics Curriculum Statement

Intent – What are we trying to achieve?

At Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers.  Reading opens the door to wider learning.  We believe that reading is central for academic success and progress across the curriculum; therefore, we provide our pupils with the skills and confidence to deal with printed language from a very early age.  We provide children with a structured scheme for learning in Phonics and Early Reading – Read Write Inc.  Our aim is that children become fluent and confident readers so that, at the end of their primary education with us, they are able to read a wide variety of texts easily.

As we hold reading for pleasure at the heart of reading, we ensure children develop a real love and thirst for reading widely, across a range of text genres, by providing them with a range of books.  Read Write Inc. story books are used when reading in class and Phonics groups.  Read Write Inc. bag books are used for practising reading skills at home.  Both Read Write Inc. books (those used in school and those sent home) match the individual child’s phonic ability.  This enables pupils to practise at home what they have learnt in school, building on their confidence and fluency as readers.

We, as a school, are determined to provide the best phonics teaching to our children and therefore ensure all staff members teaching Read, Write, Inc. sessions are regularly up-to-date with the correct training.  We also ensure our parents and carers are kept up-to-date too by providing workshops, and sharing Read Write Inc. resources and information, alongside providing ‘how-to’ videos so that parents/carers can understand how to best support their children at home.

Implementation – How is our vision translated into practice?

Read, Write, Inc. Phonics

At Sacred Heart School, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) scheme to get children off to a flying start with their Phonics and Reading. 

Reading

When using RWI to read, the children will:

• Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple prompts

• Learn to read words using sound blending (Fred talk)

• Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out

• Show that they comprehend the stories by answering ‘Find It’ and ‘Prove It’

Writing

When using RWI to write, the children will:

• Learn to write the letter/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds

• Learn to write words by saying the sounds and graphemes (Fred fingers)

Talking

When using RWI, the children will also work in pairs:

• To answer questions

• To take turns talking and listening to each other

• To give positive praise to each other

Reading Books / Ditty Sheets sent home – Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1

Pupils will take home RWI Ditty Sheets / Book Bag books to practise their early reading skills, using their knowledge and skills in Phonics at home.  Their Ditty Sheet / Book Bag book will align with what they have learnt during their Read Write Inc. phonics sessions.  This means that their Ditty Sheet/book will contain sounds and words they have already been taught in school, so, at home they can practise these confidently.