Subject Lead; Mrs Jenni Beavers

Phonics:

At Weeton St Michael’s we have daily phonics or spelling, punctuation and grammar lessons for all of the children (20 minutes daily). We teach phonics through the systematic scheme 'Red Rose Phonics'. Children learn letter sounds through a multi-sensory approach, encouraging children to use talk to learn the sounds for both reading and writing. Structured phonics lessons provide children with the opportunity to revise previous learning as well as learn new sounds and high frequency words. This is supplemented through read at home books which consolidate their learning. Phonics teaching and learning is also enhanced by well planned, independent activities to support children’s skills to practise blending, sounding out and segmenting in order to help develop their individual reading skills. Children are assessed on a regular basis in order to monitor their progress and individual needs are quickly picked up and supported through the scheme of work. At the end of Year 1 children complete a statutory phonics screening test to demonstrate their attainment of an expected level of phonic awareness.

No Nonsense Spelling is used from Year 2 onwards to support the spelling patterns of higher level words and high frequency words .  This scheme teaches spelling in a ‘Little-but-often’ structure which allows children to revisit and review, learn new strategies and apply. A variety of strategies are suggested so that children with different learning styles can find out what works well for them.

Reading:

Children are taught to read through structured and systematic daily phonics teaching.  We have guided reading groups where children start by practising early sounding out and key word recognition skills and develop an understanding of different text types and comprehension skills. These groups are organised according to individual ability and reading confidence, and they supplement shared reading sessions. The books are organised and progress according to National Curriculum reading levels and include a broad and balanced range of text types.  This practice carries on throughout Key Stage 2.

In Key Stage 1, home reading involves children progressing through a range of books (directly linked to the Red Rose Phonics scheme through Big Cat Collins) that match the progression of phonic skills and ability. Children practise key and tricky word sets by flashcards that they take home to practise.   In Key Stage 2 children continue to progress through the levelled books matched to their individual reading ability. All children have access to a class or school library of books that they can borrow as part of their reading practise at home and in school.