Phonics
At Holy Family, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics, a Department for Education validated systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme developed by Ruth Miskin. The programme is designed to ensure that every child learns to read accurately and fluently, regardless of background. Through daily, engaging lessons, regular assessment and targeted tutoring, children quickly develop the knowledge and confidence they need to become successful readers and writers.
Read Write Inc. teaches children to recognise sounds, blend sounds to read words and segment words for spelling. Through a carefully structured progression, children build secure foundations in reading and writing. Fully decodable books matched to children's phonic knowledge enable them to practise and apply their learning successfully, building confidence, fluency and comprehension.
The programme's inclusive approach, combined with regular assessment and targeted support, ensures that all children have the opportunity to succeed as readers.
Our Approach to Phonics
At Holy Family, reading is at the heart of our curriculum. It is our priority to ensure that every child is taught to read. Phonics is the way our children begin their journey towards becoming independent and fluent readers.
From the moment children join us in Reception, phonics is taught through a highly structured programme of daily lessons that continues throughout Reception, Year 1 and beyond for those who require additional support.
We aim to provide children with the skills needed to read confidently, access learning across the curriculum and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Phonics (reading and spelling)
At Holy Family School, we believe that every child can become a successful reader and writer. We teach reading through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, which provides a structured and systematic approach to early reading and writing.
Children begin learning Set 1 Speed Sounds as soon as they start Reception and rapidly progress through Set 2 and Set 3 Speed Sounds. They learn to blend sounds into words for reading and segment words for spelling. Through carefully structured teaching, children develop accuracy, fluency and confidence as readers and writers.
Children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their current reading stage. Assessment information is used to ensure teaching is closely matched to children's needs and to identify any pupils requiring additional support. Groups are reviewed regularly and children move groups as soon as they are ready so that they continue to make strong progress.
Throughout the school day, teachers model the application of phonics in reading and writing across the curriculum. We place a strong emphasis on language development because we know that speaking and listening are essential foundations for successful reading and writing.
For more information about Read Write Inc., please visit https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/
Daily Phonics Lessons:
Children participate in daily Read Write Inc. phonics lessons. Lessons are fast-paced, interactive and carefully matched to children's stage of development.
Children are grouped according to their current reading stage and are regularly assessed to ensure they receive teaching that best meets their needs.
Through daily lessons, children learn to:
- Read sounds confidently and accurately.
- Blend sounds to read words.
- Read words at speed.
- Spell words using their phonic knowledge.
- Develop fluency and expression.
- Build confidence as readers and writers.
Partner work is a key feature of Read Write Inc. lessons. Children work together to practise reading, rehearse responses and develop their speaking and listening skills.
Children who require additional support receive daily tutoring and targeted practice to ensure they keep up, not catch up. These sessions provide immediate support and help children to keep pace with their peers.
Pupils who do not meet age-related expectations continue to receive Read Write Inc. teaching and tutoring beyond Year 1 until they become fluent and confident readers.
Reading Practice:
Children read books that are carefully matched to the sounds they know. Read Write Inc. Storybooks and Book Bag Books provide opportunities for children to practise reading with increasing accuracy and fluency.
Through structured reading sessions, children develop:
- Accurate decoding skills.
- Reading fluency.
- Expression and prosody.
- Vocabulary knowledge.
- Reading comprehension.
Children reread texts to build fluency, confidence and engage in partner discussions that deepen their understanding of what they read.
Children who are at the early stages of reading continue to receive additional opportunities to practise reading decodable books until they become fluent readers.
Reading Comprehension:
At Holy Family, we value reading as an essential life skill. By the time children leave us, we aspire for them to read confidently for meaning and enjoy reading for pleasure.
Through the Read Write Inc. programme and our wider reading curriculum, children develop the skills needed to understand increasingly complex texts and vocabulary.
Because teaching every child to read is so important, we have a dedicated Read Write Inc. Reading Leader who drives the early reading programme across the school. The Reading Leader monitors teaching, analyses assessment information, supports staff development and ensures that Read Write Inc. is delivered consistently and with fidelity across the school.
Home reading
Children take home three books each week to support their reading development and foster a love of reading:
- A Read Write Inc. Storybook that they have already read and practised in school. Rereading this familiar text helps to develop fluency, accuracy and expression.
- A Read Write Inc. Book Bag Book that is carefully matched to their phonic knowledge. This enables children to apply their reading skills independently and build confidence.
- A library book chosen by the child to share and enjoy at home. This book may not be fully decodable and is intended to be read together with an adult, helping to develop vocabulary, comprehension and a love of stories.
Reading a familiar book again at home helps children develop fluency and confidence, whilst the Book Bag Book provides an opportunity to apply their phonics knowledge independently. The library book encourages reading for pleasure and allows children to explore a wide range of authors, genres and interests.
Alongside these books, children are encouraged to read regularly at home and record their reading in their home reading record. Strong partnerships between home and school help children become successful, enthusiastic readers.
We encourage parents and carers to celebrate reading at home through regular reading routines, discussion about books and shared enjoyment of stories. This helps children develop both the skills and the motivation needed to become lifelong readers. We ask that you read the books at least 4 times a week.
Working in partnership with parents
Each year, we offer Read Write Inc. workshops for parents and carers. These sessions provide information about how phonics is taught in school and offer practical guidance on how families can support reading at home.
Ensuring reading for pleasure at Holy Family.
‘Reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s success.
We value reading for pleasure and work hard as a school to grow our Reading for Pleasure culture. In addition to learning systematic phonics, we recognise the significance of reading for meaning and teach phonics within this context. Our environments support the children’s development as readers. Children have access to high quality texts and reading experiences. Children have opportunities to read alone, with each other and significantly, with adults who model enjoyment in stories by reading aloud frequently. We read to children every day. We choose these books carefully as we want children to experience a wide range of books, including books that reflect the children at Holy Family and our local community as well as books that open windows into other worlds and cultures.
Every classroom has a book area which encourages a love for reading. We curate these books and talk about them to entice children to read a wide range of books.
In Reception, children have access to the reading corner every day in our free flow provision and the books are continually refreshed to reflect the current topic and interests of the children.
Children from Reception onwards have a home reading record. The parent/carer records comments to share with the adults in school and the adults will write in this on a regular basis to ensure communication between home and school.
As the children progress through the school, they are encouraged to write their own comments and keep a list of the books/authors that they have read.
Our KS1 and KS2 school libraries are made available for classes to use throughout the week. Children across the school have regular opportunities to engage with a wide range of Reading for Pleasure events (Book Week and workshops etc).
Assessment of Phonics and Early Reading Assessment is used to monitor progress and to identify any child needing additional support as soon as they need it.
Assessment:
Assessment is an integral part of the Read Write Inc. programme and is used to monitor progress and identify any child requiring additional support.
Assessment for learning is used to:
- Identify children who may need immediate support during daily phonics lessons.
- Ensure children are working within the most appropriate teaching group.
- Monitor progress and inform future teaching.
- Identify gaps in learning and provide targeted tutoring where required.
The Read Write Inc. Reading Leader, senior leaders and SEND team use assessment information to monitor progress, support staff and ensure that any barriers to reading are addressed quickly.
Children move groups as soon as assessment indicates they are ready. This ensures that all pupils receive teaching at the appropriate level and make the best possible progress.
Phonics Screening Check:
In the summer term of Year 1, children take part in the national Phonics Screening Check. This assessment confirms whether children have learned phonic decoding skills to the expected standard.
Children who do not meet the expected standard in Year 1 receive additional support and retake the screening check in Year 2. Parents are informed of their child's outcome in their end-of-year report.
Our commitment:
At Holy Family, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader who enjoys reading and has the skills needed to succeed across the curriculum and beyond. Through high-quality phonics teaching, carefully matched reading books, targeted support and a strong culture of reading for pleasure, we strive to give every child the best possible start on their reading journey.