KS1 Phonics & Reading Scheme
Reading at Ward End Primary School from September 2022
At Ward End, we make time to read to children to inspire a love of books and reading. Through listening to stories read aloud, children are exposed to the language and vocabulary of stories, they are able to generate ideas for their own writing and begin to understand the grammatical conventions which are used to shape writing.
By the end of the Foundation Stage most children should be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of what has been read to them by retelling stories and narratives using their own words and recently introduced vocabulary.
- Anticipate – where appropriate – key events in stories.
- Use and understand recently introduced vocabulary during discussions about
stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems and during role-play.
- Say a sound for each letter in the alphabet and at least 10 digraphs.
- Read words consistent with their phonic knowledge by sound-blending.
- Read aloud simple sentences and books that are consistent with their phonic knowledge, including some common exception words.
Phonics and early reading: Foundation and Key Stage 1
From Autumn term 2022 Ward End School is implementing Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics and early reading programme in Foundation and Key Stage 1. This scheme is accredited by the DfE.
All teaching staff will be trained on the programme.
Placement assessments are carried out at the end of Reception and year 1 to determine a good starting point. Phases 1-5 are covered.
Children will have the opportunity to carry out daily guided reading activities. Teachers will target groups for reading and teach specific reading skills.
Reading practice sessions are carried out 3 times a week, as per Little Wandle and books are matched to the phonic knowledge level of individual children.
The progression of the scheme has been organised so that children are taught from the simple to more complex GPCs, as well as taking into account the frequency of their occurrence in the most commonly encountered words. All the graphemes taught are practised in words, sentences, and later on, in fully decodable books. Children review and revise GPCs and words, daily, weekly and across terms and years, in order to move this knowledge into their long-term memory. Children learn to read as quickly as reasonably possible, so they can move from learning to read, to reading to learn, giving them access to the wide range of reading genres and authors. The expectations of progression are aspirational yet achievable if pace, practice and participation is maintained. Children who are not keeping up with their age-related expectations will be given additional practice immediately through keep-up sessions.
Key Stage Two
In Key Stage 2, phonics teaching will continue using the Little Wandle system with those children still needing this support.
Children will be given opportunities for reading throughout the day. A range of genres are read by the pupils, including biographies, letters, diaries, short stories, extended whole texts, poems and play scripts.
During whole class reading sessions with the teachers, children will be taught how to analyse texts, voice their own opinions on what they have read and comment on the author’s use of language. Children will have regular opportunities to read aloud to teachers and peers. Teachers can then monitor mastery of sight vocabulary, application of phonics, development of fluency and expression, knowledge of the structure of language and audience awareness.
Some children will benefit from regular individual and small group reading in Key Stage 2. Teachers identify these children and plan to use support staff and any additional classroom help for this purpose.
Home reading
All children should have a home reading book. Systems are in place in each year group to ensure pupils have a guided selection of home reader. For pupils being taught using the Little Wandle system, this is in addition to their fully decodable reading book taken home from their lessons. Pupils and parents are encouraged to read together at home, particularly in Foundation Stage, KS1 & early KS2. Inspire workshops for parents are planned to support this in 2022-23.
A new school Library is in development for 2022-23 to promote reading for pleasure for the school community.