Phonics

The way we do Phonics is so useful because it helps me segment and blend my words, allows me to speak more confidently and helps me learn to read. Jacob, Reception

Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another. Knowing the sounds of individual letters and how those letters sound when they’re combined will help children decode words as they read.

Our Phonics Approach

At Kanes Hill Primary School, we teach a synthetic and systematic approach to phonics. We have fidelity to a programme developed by the Springhill English Hub which is in line with the Government requirements in the teaching of phonics.

our approach to phonics and early reading.pdf

Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Kanes Hill Primary School we value reading as a key life skill and are determined that every child will learn to read regardless of their background, needs or abilities, ensuring a lifelong love of reading. Phonics is taught as our main approach to early reading. We aim to deliver high quality phonics teaching that builds on children’s speaking and listening and is matched to their developing needs. From Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) phonics is taught in small ability groups so that it is reactive to the changing needs of our learners. Children progress through phases securing and applying their phonetical knowledge with a sequence of reading books matched closely to their ability.

Implementation

Phonics and reading are core elements of our curriculum at Kanes Hill. We follow the ‘Letters and Sounds’ synthetic phonics programme teaching order and structure throughout Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 to teach the children essential phonic skills that are required to successfully read and spell. By adopting this phonics approach, we ensure rigour, consistency and therefore, impact. All staff are trained in the delivery of phonics to ensure they have a secure knowledge of early reading.

Children begin to learn phonics sounds as soon as they start school in EYFS. They develop their phonological awareness (the ability to hear sounds) through listening games and rhyming activities.

In the Foundation Stage, Cued Articulation is used alongside Letters and Sounds to support the children when first learning to recognise letters. This ensures that children pronounce the associated sounds correctly.

Through daily phonics lessons, children are taught to recognise letters, understand the sound they make and then blend them together to read words. The vocabulary of ‘segmenting’ and ‘blending’ is used with the children. Some words, which cannot be phonetically sounded out, are taught at each phase. These are ‘tricky words’ or ‘high frequency words’ which are taught through sight recognition. If required, visual clues are used to support with the development of vocabulary.

Formal phonics teaching begins in EYFS, with the aim that all children will have completed the programme by the Autumn Term of Year 2. All children across EYFS and KS1 receive a 20-30 minute phonics lesson every day. As well as this, reading skills and the promotion of reading for pleasure, are also developed through guided reading with the teacher, 1:1 reading with an adult, use of our school library, peer ‘Reading Buddies’ and additional reading opportunities within our curriculum.

Children are provided with a rich learning environment that provides opportunities for the overlearning and application of phonics.

Children are assessed at regular intervals throughout the year to ensure that they make rapid progress. Children in EYFS and KS1 are grouped across their cohort according to their learning needs. This ensures children are practising and overlearning sounds and thus reduces phonics gaps. Individual assessment and AfL is used continuously throughout lessons so as to give children targets to allow ownership of their own learning. Where overlearning of phonics and reading is required, there are daily inventions in place.

Phonics books and word lists are used in school and at home to provide daily practice in reading words containing focus letter sounds. The children also practise their reading with fully decodable books that are chosen by the teacher. These books contain only the sounds and tricky words that the children have been previously taught, for further application of phonics knowledge. The reading books have been carefully selected from a range of reading schemes and reflect the progression followed in Letters and Sounds following advice from The Springhill English Hub.

We recognise our parents as partners, understanding the vital role they play in securing the best outcomes. Phonics workshops and ‘Come Phonics with Me’ sessions are provided to support parents, giving them an insight into their child’s learning for further application beyond the school day.

Children who are able to read almost all words fluently, access reading books from our book banded scheme, reading a Turquoise level or above. These books include those from the Oxford Reading Tree scheme and other age/level appropriate books, with a range of fiction and non-fiction.

Children who may have gaps in phonics knowledge in KS2, have assessment and teaching in place until they have completed the programme.

All children have access to our school library in which we rotate current, high interest books from the School Library Service. Children are able to regularly choose, and take home, school library books for their pleasure and enjoyment. Children and families have access to these resources after school.

Impact

Children at Kanes Hill Primary School will be confident, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One so that they can focus on developing fluency and comprehension as they move through the school. Children will engage in phonics and understand the importance for themselves, knowing it provides the key to their learning. Children will be familiar with a range of stories, poems, rhymes and non-fiction developing a love of literature and their own love of genres and authors.

"Wow! The Phonics Day for the children and parents was amazing, and the progress my child has made is huge - well done!" Alex, EYFS parent

Assessment

All children complete a half-termly assessment to gauge their learning progress. Using these assessments, we are able to identify any gaps in learning and next steps. Children are grouped according to the sounds they need to learn.

All resources are tailored to the needs of the children. Children read from fully decodable resources and reading books. All adults teaching phonics are trained to do so.

Parent Information

parent information letter.pdf

phonics screening check information for parents.pdf

y1 parents meeting phonics screening powerpoint.pdf

Thank you for the engaging phonics lesson. I've seen a huge improvement in both reading and spelling! Toni, Year 2 parent

I absolutely loved coming into school to see the Phonics lessons taking place. How fast paced it was! The children were incredible! Thank you for inviting us in. Beth, Year 2 Parent