Phonics/Early Reading
At Whitfield St James’ we use ‘Little Wandle’ to teach phonics as we know that using one scheme consistently produces good or better readers.
We teach the children as a whole class (or a small group using the same teaching sequence and structure) so that every child is exposed to the phonemes and graphemes which are at the expected level for their age.
- Children in Nursery receive ‘Foundations for phonics’ teaching.
- Children in Reception are taught phase 2 up until Christmas. From January they begin working on phase 3 and then they spend the second half of the summer term working on phase 4.
- Children in Year 1 begin working on phase 5.
- Children in Year 2 recap phase 5 before using the bridging to spelling materials.
We regularly assess children using Little Wandle’s tracking system. This data is used to help us identify children who need a little bit of extra help to catch up or keep it. Interventions are carefully planned to meet the needs of individual children.
Children are taught how to break down words into their individual sounds in order to read and how to segment words into their individual sounds in order to spell them in their writing.
KS2 children who still require phonics input will be taught in very small groups with their peers.
Year 1 children will take a phonics screening check in June. Parents will be informed of the results with the annual school report.
Parents please click on the link below to find out how to help your child at home.
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
The link below will allow you to see how we teach phonics and allow you to download some materials
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/#tabnametabHowWeTeach
The link belwo will allow you to delve deeper into the Little Wandle approach to bring books home
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/#tabnametabBooksComingHome
The link below allows you to view and/or download a range of Nursery Rhymes that we will be using in school
