Early Reading and Phonics
Learning is fun and fascinating

Why learning to read is so important

Reading is essential for all subject areas and improves life chances.

We recognise that a positive attitude to reading and choosing to read have academic, social, and emotional benefits for children.

Application of phonics to reading – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CB0iZXrjyw

Phonics

At Rokesly infants school phonics is taught through a systematic, synthetic phonics programme (SSP) called Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.

This is a DFE accredited programme which draws on the latest research into how children learn best; how to ensure learning stays in children’s long-term memory and how best to enable children to apply their learning to become highly competent readers.

In Nursery, the children explore Phase 1 of the “Little Wandle” phonics scheme, which includes environmental sounds, body percussion and rhyme.

See the nursery page for further support on phase 1 phonics

https://www.rokesly-inf.haringey.sch.uk/rokesly-nursery/

From reception into year 1 our phonics teaching follows the cycle of revisit and review, teach, practise and apply.

Revisit and Review

Quick flash review. Each session will begin by rapidly revisiting any sounds that have been previously taught.

Teach and Practise

The session will move onto introducing the new sound and practising pronouncing it. Within the teach and practise section, children will be given the opportunity to form the sound, match to the letter, oral blending of the sound in words, teacher led blending words and the exposure of tricky words.

Examples of this are:

  • Timed reading of GPCs/words/tricky words.
  • Reading words quickly: ask children to find the digraph and then read the word fluently.
  • Reading longer words using the chunking method. Aim to read some longer words fluently each time.
  • Oral blending throughout the day
  • Teacher- led blending throughout the day

Practise and Apply

Children are given an opportunity to play games to use the new sound in action and apply it into reading and writing words.

From year 2, children move on to understanding the text the have read through comprehension activities. If any children need further phonics support in year 2 they receive small group support to further embed their phonics skills.

Our aim is to teach children to sound out and blend to read words.

Reading fully decodable books

Children must read books consistent with their phonic knowledge.

It is essential not to use other strategies to work out words (including guessing words, deducing meaning from pictures, grammar, context clues or whole word recognition).

Books must be fully decodable and follow the Little Wandle scheme.

Children need to read books in a progressive sequence until they can decode unfamiliar words confidently, with fluency and with automaticity.

Helping you child at home

There are two different types of books that pupils bring home:

Reading Practice Books (decodables)

This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.

We send home both Collins big cats book and Collins Big Cats ebooks from the online Library.

Sharing Books

Your child will also bring home a sharing book from the library or class book corner. This book is a book your child has chosen because they find it interesting and want to share it with you. This book may not be matched to their phonics level. This book is for you to read to them which encourages your child to become a lifelong reader. It is important that they learn to read for pleasure.

Top tips to support reading at home:

Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.

Parents should use voices, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next.

Give positive feedback in their comments book to support us with your child’s phonics and reading journey.

Practise the phonics sounds that are being taught at school, your child’s class teacher will inform you which sounds are being covered each week.

Practise the activities for phonics/ spellings sent home.

Help your child with their segmenting and blending skills.

Resources to support you at home

The resources below can be found on the Little Wandle website in the parent’s area:

 

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Telephone

020 8340 7687

Address

Rokesly Infant and Nursery School,
Hermiston Avenue,
London, N8 8NH