Phonics and Early Reading

Phonics at KINS

"We learn to read so that we can read to learn."

Here at KINS we understand that reading underpins children’s ability to access the different areas of the curriculum and therefore impacts on their achievement. Children who enjoy reading and choose to read benefit not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Our role is to support our children to develop the skills they need to become confident, proficient and enthusiastic readers. To be able to read, children need to be taught an efficient strategy to decode words. That strategy is phonics.

It is essential that children are actively taught and supported to use phonics  to decode words. In our school we use the phonics scheme Little Wandle Letters and Sounds.

Phonic decoding skills are practised every day following the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds programme until our children become automatic and fluent reader. Children are given regular opportunities to apply the phonics they have learned by reading fully decodable books during our reading sessions. The phonic progression in these books match the progression of the phonics taught.

The reading practice sessions take place at least three times a week using books that match the phonics progression of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds and have been designed to focus on three key reading skills:

• decoding

• prosody – reading with meaning, stress and intonation

• comprehension – understanding the text

Comprehension skills also need to be taught to enable children to make sense of what they read, build on what they already know and give them a desire to want to read. Reading increases children’s vocabulary because they encounter words they would rarely hear or use in everyday speech.

We frequently assess our children to ensure that children have the opportunity to revisit anything they need to. Any children needing extra phonics support will have extra 'Keep Up' sessions to support there learning and ensure that they are staying on track.

Phonics in Action 

There will be various opportunities to come into school to find out more about how you can help your child's progress with phonics and early reading.  Our Year 1 parents have recently been invited in to watch a full phonics session in the classroom.  The session began by practising speedy sounds and followed all the steps of a Little Wandle phonics session. Parents were then invited into the hall for an informal question and answer session with our Phonics and Early Reading Lead Teacher.

Supporting your child

There  are lots of ways in which you can support your child at home-please use the links below for more information.