Phonics, Reading & Spelling
Our school recognises the importance of equipping our children with the skills to decode words whilst ensuring that writing and reading emphasises and embeds rules for spelling and grammar.
Using Sounds-Write, synthetic phonics is taught from reception with our aim being that the majority of children are secure in both the initial and extended code by the end of Key Stage 1, Sounds-write is a very highly structured, multi-sensory, incremental and code –orientated, instructional approach to teaching children to read and spell. We also teach high frequency words and spelling lists are provided throughout the year in every year group.
Guidance for teaching phonics has been taken from the Department of Education (DfE).
Spelling, grammar and punctuation is taught using the guidelines provided by the DfE to ensure that as many children as possible meet the required standards by the end of Key Stage 2.
Comprehension skills are also taught throughout year groups, using a combination of guided reading schemes, group readers and individual books as well as comprehension testing materials to enable the children to enjoy books, using high-level thinking skills to articulate an understanding of a variety of texts. We operate the widely-used book-banding system to support pupils until they are able to make their own reading choices - usually in lower- to mid-juniors. Within each band there is a range of resources including materials from different reading schemes such as Oxford Reading Tree, Storyworlds, Literacy World, and non-scheme books.
Further information on this, and supporting children’s reading can be found on the reading tab on the school website, book-band letter from September 2017, reading leaflet issued September 2017 and powerpoint presentation from September 2017.