Intent
At Consett Infant School we recognise reading as a key life skill, which underpins access to the rest of the curriculum. It is our intention that children to be able to read words and simple sentences by the end of Reception, become successful, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1 and also begin their journey in developing a lifelong love of reading. The systematic teaching of synthetic phonics using the Little Wandle programme is given high priority throughout Reception and Key Stage 1. Children learn key phonic knowledge and develop skills in segmenting and blending sounds in words.
Implementation
Through the use of Little Wandle synthetic, systematic phonics programme, children are taught essential skills needed for reading. Phonics is taught daily to all children in Reception and Key Stage 1. Phonics is taught following the programme and lesson structure outlined in Little Wandle.
Extra support is provided to children in Year 2 who have not passed the phonics screening check in Year 1 and interventions are planned for those children who are working below expected levels.
Staff systematically teach children the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and written spelling patterns (graphemes) which represent them. Throughout school Phonics is taught on a daily basis to whole classes and small groups. Staff ensure that Phonics is an integral part of all learning and that links are made throughout the whole curriculum.
Children have regular reading sessions with teachers/ trained adults to ensure that they are regularly applying and practising their phonic knowledge. This includes additional reading on a one to one basis for those children who are most vulnerable to enable them to catch-up and meet age related expectations. Reading materials which children use are decodable and matched to meet children’s needs.
Teachers regularly assess children’s phonic knowledge using the Little Wandle assessment framework. Assessments inform planning and allow teachers to identify gaps in learning. Children have access to phonically decodable reading books from the Little Wandle Scheme which are matched to their phonic knowledge and are encouraged to read at home to ensure fluency in reading is developed.
Impact
As a result of high-quality phonics provision, children make good progress from their starting points. The vast majority of children are ready for the next stage in their education as they transfer through Reception, Key Stage One and are prepared for entry to their feeder Junior School provision. Many children accelerate progress from being below Age Related Expectations on their Baseline entries to meeting National expectations by the end of Key Stage 1.
Please see attached the Progression Maps for Phonics as well as a Key Terminology for Phonics document.
I’m really pleased with the effectiveness of the a little Wandle program and how quick my son has learned his sounds and to read and write after only attending 2.5 months at school, amazing achievement !