St Anne’s RC Primary School
Phonics ‘The St Anne’s Way’
At St Anne’s, early reading is prioritised in EYFS and KS1. It is underpinned by a coherent and systematic phonics scheme (Read Write Inc) which is taught daily. All teaching staff in EYFS and KS1 have high quality training in teaching phonics and members of staff have the opportunity to share good practice amongst each other to ensure consistency and that the same high standards are met across the key stages. We continue to teach phonics to any pupils who have not become fluent decoders at the end of KS1, believing that all children can learn to decode but some need extra practise to achieve this. Our aim is that all pupils, regardless of their needs or background become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One.
At St Anne’s, we have adapted the RWI programme slightly to ensure Set 2 and 3 sounds are learnt as quickly as possible and to enable children to have sufficient time to embed the reading of these sounds within words, prior to the phonics screening check in Year 1 and also to support the development of writing in EYFS. Therefore, Set 2 sounds are introduced at Red Level Storybooks, with the expectation that all Set 2 sounds can be read by the end of reception. Set 3 sounds are introduced as soon as all Set 2 sounds are known, or at Purple Level Storybooks, whichever is sooner. The expectation is that all children can read all Set 3 sounds, including the additional sounds by the end of Spring 2.
When learning to read, children read books closely matched to their phonic knowledge, to quickly develop confidence and fluency with intonation and expression. Following RWI, children learn to form letters correctly, spell accurately and write dictated sentences applying the phonics they have learnt.
Children work in progress groups to master each level of phonics and reading. These groups are assessed every half term (or earlier using the ‘What to Teach When’ document) and adapted accordingly. Target groups are assessed more regularly (fortnightly) to ensure they are moving on as soon as they are ready.
All staff have received comprehensive training and support in the teaching of RWI to ensure fidelity across the school. Weekly practise meetings and coaching sessions are held to regularly review teaching.
Children who are not keeping up, receive 1:1 or small group daily tuition in our aim to achieve the ambitious target of all children becoming fluent readers by the end of Year 1.
Phonics displays are consistent across all year groups.
Children who have not mastered fluency by the end of Year 2 continue to receive phonics tuition by trained staff until they become fluent decoders.
Group leaders are responsible for planning and resourcing their lessons, with support from the Phonics and Early Reading Lead as required.
We subscribe to the RWI Portal and use the Online Classroom videos to support all children keeping up with the programme. These videos are posted on Seesaw to allow children to access extra support at home.
Parents are involved in the programme from the very beginning with workshops to teach parents in supporting their children at home. Oxford Owl is also used to support the delivery of RWI Phonics.
Nursery
- Daily 5 to 10 minutes Phase 1 Phonics session
- Practise using pure sounds
- Teach ‘Fred Talk’ to teach oral blending
- Teach children to name the pictures used for the RWI mnemonics
- Start teaching the sounds in Summer Term to those pupils who are ready (a new sound every day for 10 minutes)
- Teach blending in small groups once children can read all of the single letter Set 1 sounds speedily
- Teach children to form letters in the air during Speed Sounds lessons
- If children are ready to write with a pencil, the correct grip and sitting position is taught from the very beginning and children sit at tables to establish good habits
Reception
- Daily RWI lesson (10 to 30 minutes) set according to decoding ability – phonics, reading and writing
- Fred games throughout the day
- Pinny time to review sounds learnt
- Take home RWI Sound Blending Book or Book Bag Book (changed weekly) linked to sounds they have learnt
- Daily 1:1 tuition for lowest 20% to promote keeping up
- Daily small groups to target gaps
- The Get Writing element of RWI is not taught. Children practise hold a sentence activities daily once they have reached red level and above
Key Stage One
- Daily 30 minutes RWI lesson (phonics and reading) until children have completed the RWI programme – aim to be completed by Autumn Term 2 in Year 2
- Take home RWI Book Bag Book (changed minimum twice weekly) linked to sounds they have learnt
- Daily 1:1 tuition for lowest 20% to promote keeping up
- Daily small groups to target gaps to ‘catch up and keep up’
- The Get Writing element of RWI is not taught in KS1. Instead, children practise spelling green and red words and complete hold a sentence activities daily as part of the RWI lesson, enabling them to work at the appropriate level for their spelling knowledge.
Key Stage Two
- Daily phonics and reading lesson for any children who have not completed the RWI programme
- Daily 1:1 tuition for lowest 20% to promote keeping up
- Daily small groups to target gaps to ‘catch up and keep up’
