What children learn in phonics lessons

We believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. The foundation for this is phonics. In phonics lessons children learn the letter-sound relationships they need to know in order to read and spell. Children learn the sounds that each letter, and combination of letters, makes. English is not a wholly phonetic language so the children also learn some words by sight – we call these tricky words.

Our approach to teaching phonics

We teach phonics through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We lay the foundations for all English skills in Nursery and follow the programme as children move through the school. This ensures they build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell.

Children’s achievements in phonics

By the time children leave our school, they have the skills to read and spell unfamiliar words. These are crucial skills for developing knowledge and skills in all other subjects and lead to greater choices in careers and more success as an adult.

Our systematic and rigorous approach to phonics and our high expectations ensure that children develop a lifelong love of reading.  They read confidently for meaning, and regularly enjoy reading for pleasure.