Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. We follow the Read Write Inc phonics programme to ensure rapid progress for all children. In addition, children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest in reading for pleasure.  

Reading and phonics:

We use a synthetic phonics programme called ‘Read Write Inc’ produced by Ruth Miskin. Read Write Inc. is a method of learning letter sounds and blending them together to read and write words. As part of this, all children in Reception and KS1 have daily phonics sessions in small groups where they participate in speaking, listening and spelling activities that are matched to their developing needs. The teachers draw upon observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are stretched and challenged and to identify children who may need additional support. Children work through the different stages, learning and developing their phonics sounds and knowledge.  If a child is not making at least good progress, they are promptly identified and access to 1-1 tuition is provided daily in order to get them back on track.

Children take a Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1.

By the end of the Reception children will know how to say a sound for each letter of the alphabet and recognise at least 10 diagraphs eg sh, th, ch, qu. They will know how to read words that are consistent with their phonic knowledge by sound blending. They will know how to read aloud sentences and books that are consistent with their phonic knowledge, including some common words.

Writing:

By the end of the Reception year children will know how to write recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed. They will know how to spell words by identifying sounds in them and representing sounds with a letter or letters. They will know how to write simple phrases and sentences that can be read by others.

Story times:

Story time takes place in school daily (sometimes twice daily) and children are encouraged to  read and look at books when they are working independently in the classroom. Every term we have a 'Favourite Five' books which we read and re-read until the children know them by heart. These books are a mixture of traditional tales and modern classics. We also send home 'reading for pleasure' books on Fridays for you to read to your child.

Home Reading:

We encourage parents and carers to read with their child every night.  All children have a blue book bag and a Home Reading Record book. We invite parents to sign or make a comment to help support their child’s reading at home. Children's home reading books are well matched to their phonological stage of learning, and are changed weekly, as re-reading books allows children to develop their fluency in reading.  Children also have the opportunity to take home a reading for pleasure book, which we encourage parents to read to or with their child to further develop their love of books and stories. 

We want children to love and respect books.  Encourage your child to look after the books and spend time talking to your child about what they are reading. You could model asking questions and say what is happening in the pictures. There are also questions in the back of the Read Write Inc books that you can ask your child about the book .  Whilst out and about, we encourage the children to look at the print around them - in shops, posters, road names, signs, etc.