Phonics

Phonics Teaching at West End Primary School

The National Curriculum for English (2014) aims to ensure that all pupils:

• read easily, fluently and with good understanding

• develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information

• acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.

Reading underpins children’s access to the curriculum, and it clearly impacts on their achievement. There is considerable research to show that children who enjoy reading and choose to read benefit not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Children need to be taught an efficient strategy to decode words in order to be able to read. That strategy is phonics. It is essential that children are actively taught and supported to use phonics as the only approach to decoding.

Phonic decoding skills need to be taught and practised until children have adequate accuracy and automaticity to become fluent readers. Fluent decoding is only one component of reading. Children need to be guided to understand what they are reading through discussion and by linking what they read to their experiences.

Children grow their language through reading. When children read books, it increases their vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech. Children who read widely and frequently also benefit from knowing more about the world.

Children need regular opportunities to apply the phonics they have learned by reading fully decodable books. The phonic progression in these books must match the progression of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. We use the ‘Collins Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised’ books that are perfectly matched to the Little Wandle programme progression and to children’s secure phonic knowledge.

The following documents and videos are guides for parents for the key aspects that will be taught in each year/term

Reception - Autumn Term 1