Phonics

Read Write Inc Phonics

At St. Patrick’s Primary School, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics which is a complete synthetic phonics programme for 3 to 6 year olds that are learning to read and write and any older children who need small group or 1:1 support.

This approach:

• Allows children to decode fluently and comprehend quickly - the children read a book three times during the week,  which allows them to gain accuracy, fluency and a good understanding of the text.
• Uses books matched to their phonic knowledge.
• Sets high expectations for all children - assessments track every child’s progress every term
• Enables participation for all -  the style of teaching encourages all children to be fully involved and engaged for the whole of the session including partner practice, Fred Talk or Fred in Your Head.

Our pre-school children begin to learn the first Read Write Inc sounds and pictures in short sessions.  The pre-school children prioritise Fred Talk (blending sounds to make a word).

When pupils move into reception year, they continue to have phonics lessons daily and begin to read books that are closely matched to their developing phonic knowledge.  The pupils make rapid progress due to  lively and interactive sessions.  Throughout Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 and Year 3 (if needed), the children are assessed at the end of every term and they are grouped according to the level they are working at.  This ensures that teaching is always focused precisely on what pupils need and the pace of learning is fast. 

Here are some useful documents and websites to support phonics learning at home:

Year 1 Phonics Assessments

Phonics Screening is a statutory assessment that takes place in primary schools. 

In June, Year 1 children will all be required to have their phonics knowledge assessed.  Through our daily Read Write Inc phonics sessions our children are well prepared for this assessment, including the decoding of Alien words. 

Here’s a Parent Video to explain about the Phonics Check.

Here are some video clips of how to say Set 1 and 2 sounds and reading alien or nonsense words. Alien words allow us to assess how well children know the sound.  If they can read the sound in an alien word, we know they can confidently read it in any simple word.

Here are some previous Phonics Check assessments.