Phonics at May Park
We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily engaging phonics lessons. In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching starts in Nursery and follows a very specific sequence that allows our children to build on their previous phonic knowledge and master specific phonic strategies as they move through school. As a result, all our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words that they might discover. At May Park Primary we also model these strategies in shared reading and writing both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on the development of language skills for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.
Spoken English uses about 44 sounds, these are called phonemes. These phonemes are represented by letters, these are called graphemes. Graphemes can comprise of single letters, digraphs, trigraphs and four-letter graphemes. In other words, a sound can be represented by a letter (e.g. ‘s’) or a group of letters (e.g. ‘th’ or ‘igh’). Children are also taught the corresponding letter name. Phonemes are taught in a specific order, the first six phonemes, s, a, t, p, i, n, can be immediately used to make a number of words like sat and pin.
How we teach phonics and Early Reading (Early Years and KS1)
- In the nursery, children follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised ‘Foundations for Phonics’ guidance. The focus is on daily oral blending and language development through high quality stories and rhymes.
- In reception and Y1, children follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday.
- Phonics starts in reception in week 2 to ensure the children make a strong start.
- By the end of reception, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 4.
- By the end of year 1, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 5.
- Children in year 2 recap any gaps in their phonics knowledge in the autumn term.
- Reception lessons start at 20 minutes, with daily additional oral blending – increasing quickly to 30 minutes.
- Y1 lessons are 30 minutes long. Year 1 classes start their year 1 with two phonics lessons a day.
Reading practice sessions
- Children across reception, year 1, year 2 (and beyond if appropriate) apply their phonics knowledge by using a full matched decodable reader in a small group reading practice session.
- These sessions are 15 minutes long and happen three times a week. There are approximately 6 children in a group.
- The sessions follow the model set out in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
- The children then take the same book home the following week to ensure success is shared with the family. This is your child’s reading practice book.
- In reception these sessions start in week 4. Children who are not yet blending take a wordless book home.
The Reading Practice Book
This book is for your child to practice at home. It is intended to help your child become a fluent, confident reader. This book will be matched to their phonic stage and will be fully decodable. Listen to your child read this book, they will be able to read it independently.
The Sharing Book
This book is to enjoy together. Your child will choose this book. It may be a story, poetry or a non fiction book. Take time to look at it together, you may want to talk about the pictures or what is happening, you may want to see what you can find out about together. Your child may or may not be able to read this book independently.
How is Phonics assessed?
In reception, year 1 and year 2 at the end of each week there is a review session which recaps the learning. There are also whole review weeks (pre-planned and bespoke review weeks to address gaps identified by the class teacher’s ongoing formative assessment).
Children identified in reception, year 1 and year 2 as in danger of falling behind are immediately identified and daily ‘keep up’ sessions are put in place – these sessions follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
In reception and year 1, the children are assessed at the end of every half term using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised assessment tracker.
Children in year 1 complete the statutory Phonics Screening Check in the summer term.
Children who do not meet standard in the Phonics Screening Check in Y1, will complete this in Y2. Support continues to be put in place for these children.
What is the phonics screening check?
The phonics screening check is a quick and easy check of your child’s phonics knowledge. It helps the school confirm whether your child has made the expected progress.
The national phonics screening check was introduced in 2012 to all Year 1 pupils in the country. It is a short, statutory assessment to ensure that children are making sufficient progress in the phonics skills to read words and are on track to become fluent readers who can enjoy reading for pleasure and for learning. It takes place in June.
How does the check work?
Your child sits with the class teacher and is asked to read 40 words out loud. If your child is struggling the teacher will stop. The check is designed not to be stressful.
The check consists of a list of 40 words, half of these are real words and half are nonsense words. The nonsense words will be shown to your child with a picture of an alien. Your child will have had a practise check during the year so they know what to expect.
Why Pseudo Words/non- words / nonsense words / alien words?
Non-words are important to include as they can’t be read using their vocabulary or from memory; they have to use their decoding skills. This is a fair way to assess all children’s ability to decode.
After the check
We will inform you on your child’s progress towards the end of the Summer term. If your child found the test tricky we will inform you of what support we have put in place to help them improve and what you can do at home to help them as well. Children who have not met the standard will retake the check when they are in Year 2.
How can I help my child at home?
Here are some useful videos and resources that will help you support your child at home.