Phonics

Intent

Implementation

Impact

The systematic teaching of phonics has a high priority throughout Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.

At St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School, we value reading as a key life skill, and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We acknowledge that children need to be taught the key skills in segmenting and blending to be equipped with the knowledge to be able to complete the phonics check at the end of year 1. We also value and encourage the pupils to read for enjoyment and recognise that this starts with the foundations of acquiring letter sounds, segmenting and blending skills.

Our phonics curriculum will reflect the aims of our vision and our associated Christian values of aspiration, wisdom and endurance.

Through the teaching of Bug Club Phonics the children are taught the essential skills needed for reading.

Phonics is taught daily to all children in reception and year 1. Extra support is provided to those in Year 2 who have not passed phonics screening in Year 1 and interventions are planned for those children who are working below expected levels.

Staff systematically teach learners the relationship between sounds and the written spelling patterns, or graphemes, which represent them. Phonics is delivered in a whole class format because it enables staff to ensure application across subjects embedding the process in a rich literacy environment for early readers.

Pupils have regular reading sessions with an adult we ensure the pupils are regularly practising and applying their phonics knowledge. In the EYFS the continuous provision matches the pupil’s current knowledge and understanding whilst ensuring the children are suitable challenged.

Teachers regularly assess the pupil’s phonics knowledge using the phonics assessment, reading milestones and Reading Early Learning Goal (in EYFS). These regular assessments inform planning and allow teachers to identify any gaps in learning.

The children have reading books which they are encouraged to read regularly at home which match their current phonics level.

Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One. This enables the children to focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through the school.

Attainment in phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Test at the end of Year 1.

Attainment in reading is measured using the statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage One and Two. These results are measured against the reading attainment of children nationally.

However, we firmly believe that reading is the key to all learning and so the impact of our reading curriculum goes beyond the results of the statutory assessments.