Phonics

Early Reading and Phonics at Byron Primary School

At Byron Primary School, we believe that learning to read is one of the most important skills a child will acquire. Reading opens the door to the entire curriculum and allows children to develop knowledge, imagination, confidence and independence.

Our aim is for every child to become a fluent, confident and enthusiastic reader. We recognise that strong early reading skills are the foundation for future success in school and beyond. Through high-quality phonics teaching, children learn to decode unfamiliar words, develop reading fluency and gain the confidence they need to become successful readers and writers.

We use the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, developed by Ruth Miskin, to teach early reading and writing. Read Write Inc. is a rigorous and systematic programme that enables children to learn sounds quickly, blend sounds to read words and develop the skills needed to read with increasing accuracy, fluency and understanding.

As children progress through the programme, they develop:

• Accurate word reading and decoding skills
• Fluency and confidence when reading aloud
• Strong spelling skills
• Effective communication and vocabulary development
• Confidence in writing independently
• A love of stories, books and reading

At Byron, phonics is taught daily from the start of Reception. Children are regularly assessed and taught in groups matched to their current stage of learning, ensuring that teaching is closely targeted to individual needs. Assessment takes place every half term so that pupils receive the right level of challenge and support and can make the best possible progress.

Alongside Read Write Inc. lessons, children develop reading, writing and oracy skills across the wider curriculum. We work closely with families to ensure that children receive consistent support both at school and at home.

As partners in your child's education, we encourage parents and carers to read regularly with their child, practise sounds and engage with the resources provided. Working together helps children make rapid progress and develop a lifelong love of reading.

"Since the introduction of the Read, Write, Inc. programme in April 2015, we firmly believe it is has contributed to raising our Literacy standards"
- Martin Atkinson, Phonics Leader.

Read Write Inc. is an inclusive literacy programme for all children. It develops a range of skills that enable every learner to achieve their full potential. Lessons are lively, engaging and carefully structured, promoting progress through purposeful teaching, clear routines and high expectations.

The stimulating resources are carefully chosen to develop the essential skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening and thinking. Children are taught in small groups according to their current stage of phonics development and are regularly assessed to ensure they receive the most appropriate level of support and challenge.

In addition to Read Write Inc., children continue to develop reading, writing and spoken language skills through whole-class lessons and the wider curriculum.

For further information about the Read Write Inc programme, including videos and guidance for parents, please visit:

Read, Write, Ink - Parent Support (including videos of how to support your child's progress in Phonics).

Reading
Using Read Write Inc the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into understanding what they read. When using 'Read Write Inc' to read the children will:

* Learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
* Learn to read words by blending the sounds together
* Read lively stories featuring words they have learnt to sound out
* Show that they understand the stories by answering 'Find It' and 'Prove it' discussion questions.

Writing
Read Write Inc allows the children to spell effortlessly so that they can put their energy into working out what they want to write. When using 'Read Write Inc' to write the children will:

* Learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds (graphemes)
* Learn to write words by sounding them out and then writing the corresponding graphemes
* Learn to write simple and then increasingly complex sentences
* Compose a range of texts using discussion prompts
* Compose stories based on picture strips.

The children are taught the sounds in 3 sets.

Set 1:

Set 1 Sounds are taught in the following order together with rhymes to help children form the letters correctly and instantly recognise sounds ready for blending.

Please do not use letter names at this early stage.

Here is a link on how to pronounce the sounds correctly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkXcabDUg7Q 

Children will also use pictures for each sound to help recognise the sound and then form the shape of the sound.

Step 2:

The children are then taught Set 2 Sounds - the long vowels. When they are very confident with all of set 1 and 2 they are taught Set 3 Sounds.

Step 3:

Children will be introduced to ‘Ditty books’ when they successfully begin to read single words. The short vowels should be kept short and sharp:

Children use sound-blending (Fred Talk) to read short ditties. They will bring these home once they have read and discussed the book in class. Children will then be challenged to use their developing phonic knowledge to write short sentences.

Within all the books children will have red and green words to learn to help them to become speedy readers. Red words are words that are not easily decodable and challenge words to extend children’s vocabulary. Green words are linked to the sounds they have been learning and are easily decodable.

Sound buttons represent the sound each letter makes.

Once your child has been introduced and taught these words in school we will send them home for you to continue practicing with your child.

What can I do to help my child at home?

I would like to introduce you to Mrs Suthers' phonics lessons on YouTube. The lessons are a brilliant way to learn, and practise sounds at home. She follows the same way of reading and writing words as we do in school. Below are links to all of her videos and I have put them in the order of Read Write Inc so you can have a go with your child. Each lesson is only about 10 - 15 minutes long and you will need a pencil and paper for the writing section.

Click on the sound with the link, which will take you to the video for that sound. Sit with your child and join in for 15 minutes to encourage them during the lesson. This is such an important time for your child’s reading and a great way to learn how we do our phonics in school.