Phonics

Purpose of study 

At Spring Meadow, we believe that reading should be placed at the heart of the curriculum. Through good phonics teaching we will make sure that all children learn to read early, regardless of their background. Ofsted states that a systematic, synthetic approach to phonics is the only route to teaching early reading. As a school we will be using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds programme, to ensure that the requirements of the EYFS Framework, National Curriculum and DFE Reading Framework (2022) are met. In line with the expectations set out in the Ofsted 2019 School Inspection Handbook,  we are determined that every pupil at Spring Meadow will learn to read regardless of their background, needs or abilities.  All pupils, including the weakest readers will be supported to make sufficient progress to meet or exceed age related expectations. We start teaching phonics in Nursery/Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

Aims 

Our curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• Phonic lessons are taught every day, with a rigorous and systematic approach and with a good pace throughout the lesson and over time. 
• High quality and consistent planning leads to good outcomes for all children.
• Assessment and tracking are used to effectively plan next steps of learning. 
• Parents have an understanding of the school’s phonic policy to effectively support their child’s learning at home.
• Learn to read and write all 44 graphemes in the English language. 
• Learn specific strategies to help them remember common exception words. 
• Apply their phonic skills in all curriculum areas.
• Become fluent, confident readers who enjoy their reading. 
• Learn in an atmosphere of enjoyment and encouragement where the teacher models reading and demonstrates good practice. 
• Access a range of literature that extends their literary experiences.