Literacy
Phonics and Early Reading
At Fingringhoe C of E Primary School, we believe phonics and early reading should be wholly inclusive. We understand that reading is a fundamental skill which every child requires to access learning throughout their time with us. Nurturing this, and a love for literature enables children to explore the world around them, make connections with their own lives and escape to magical worlds through texts.
We believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. We teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. The teaching of phonics begins in EYFS and continues to build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through Key Stage 1. This is used in conjunction with the statutory requirements in The National Curriculum. Children are allocated decodable/colour banded reading books based on regular assessments in EYFS and Key Stage 1.
We do however recognise and acknowledge all children are individuals and will undoubtedly learn at different speeds. Therefore, assessments are used to identify and targets gaps in knowledge. This approach is continued into Lower Key Stage 2 to ensure the need for additional support is quickly identified and addressed, allowing children the opportunity to revisit and revise content through ‘Keep Up’ sessions.
In addition to daily phonics sessions, our year 2 pupils also receive weekly fluency and extended reading lessons to ensure continuity of provision into Key Stage 2.
Support Pack for Parents – Phonics Little Wandle for Parents
Reading
Once children move into Key Stage 2, we continue to develop and build on their foundations of phonics and comprehending through daily reading lessons. These extended reading sessions focus on prolonged engagement with an extract to develop fluency, word knowledge, background knowledge and text knowledge through exposure. As children enter upper Key Stage 2, they will begin to participate in closed reading sessions encapsulating sustained and detailed analysis of a short text to develop a deeper level understanding of the author’s intentions and themes.
Our children take home at least one school reading book and record their reading in a ‘reading record’ diary. These books are regularly monitored by staff to ensure children are accessing appropriate, varied and challenging texts. Furthermore, each term a class book/ novel is read to the children.
We have also developed a ‘Reading Club’ with an aim to instill a passion for literature and foster curiosity for independent learning. Children have the opportunity to read for pleasure during this time or can choose to read with an adult.
Useful Links
2022 was the Year of Reading in Essex. You can find more information on this scheme on Essex County Council’s website.
You can find more information on Essex Libraries here