Phonics
At St Mary’s we teach phonics using the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to give our children the best possible start with their literacy.
Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonics programme centred around letter sounds and phonics, which we use to aid children in their reading and writing. RWI helps all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. It allows children to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.
Click the link below to discover what phonics is and how it supports children in learning to read and write:
We use the RWI programme through Early Years and into Key Stages 1&2. All staff have received special training to ensure the success of our teaching programme which takes place in whole class and small group settings.
The children learn 44 sounds (speed sounds). These are the letter sounds and not letter names. The speed sounds are divided into small groups.
Pupils are introduced to the Set 1 sounds in Nursery and Reception, through Fred the Frog. As Fred can only use sounds to “talk”, children love to help him by learning how to blend individual sounds to create words e.g. “s - a – t” forms the word “sat”. These phonically decodable words are known as green words and children quickly develop the ability to apply their phonic knowledge to read them. Children are also taught how to segment sounds to spell words using their “Fred Fingers!”
As children are introduced to each letter sound, they also learn and practice the correct formation of each letter.
Daily Read, Write, Inc lessons continue into Key Stage One. Children enjoy reading a range of phonetically decodable fiction and non-fiction texts which are aligned with the sounds learnt in class. This gives children the opportunity to consolidate the phonics they have learnt by applying these skills in context.
Withing RWI, children also learn to read and write red words which have to be learnt by sight. These are words which contain spelling patterns that cannot be sounded out. Some of the most frequently used words in the English language have an uncommon spelling pattern and do not sound like they look, for example “said”
Please see below for further resources and information, including FRED games which you can play at home.
To hear how to pronounce each of the sounds, please see the video below.
Year One Phonics Screening
The Year 1 phonics screening check is a short assessment to check whether children have developed the phonic decoding skills expected at this stage.
It helps identify pupils who may need additional support with reading, ensuring they receive the help they need to improve. Children who do not meet the expected standard will have the opportunity to retake the check in Year 2, allowing us to track progress and ensure every child becomes a confident decoder.
Please click here to find out more about the Phonics Screening Check.
