PHONICS AND EARLY READING AT STOCKTON HEATH PRIMARY SCHOOL
SUBJECT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
PHONICS AND EARLY READING LEADER: MRS STRICKLAND
At Stockton Heath Primary School, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
We value reading as a crucial life skill. By the time children leave us, they read confidently for meaning and regularly enjoy reading for pleasure. Our readers are equipped with the tools to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary. We encourage our children to see themselves as readers for both pleasure and purpose.
Early Reading and Phonics at Stockton Heath Primary School.
At Stockton Heath Primary School we aim to develop confident, fluent readers who have a life long love of books and stories.
We teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds revised which is a complete systematic, synthetic phonic programme.
We start teaching phonics in Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
We teach children to read through reading practice sessions three times a week. These are taught by a fully-trained adult to small groups of approximately six children. The books we use match the children’s secure phonic knowledge.
Comprehension skills are also taught which supports children in understanding what they are reading alongside reading with prosody (reading with meaning and intonation).
Reading practice sessions focus on three skills:
Decoding
Prosody (reading with meaning and intonation)
Comprehension
We actively encourage parents to support their child on their reading journey by providing a 'Reading practice book' and a 'Sharing book'. The more children read, the easier it is for them to become fluent, independent readers.
Children take home a practice book which is a decodable book matched to their phonic phase. This book should be read at least five times a week at home. When listening to your child remember to celebrate their success and give them lots of praise. Don't worry if this book seems easy as your child is developing fluency and confidence.
Sharing books are for reading for pleasure. Children choose these books to enjoy together with family members. Children should not be expected to read this alone; it's an opportunity to read the book to your child, discuss the pictures, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters in the book or explore the facts within the non-fiction book.
The following link provides parents with lots of support on how to support your child to decode and become successful readers.
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
Home Learning Packs are also a useful resource to support your child at home.
