Vision and Intent For Phonics at Hollybush

At Hollybush Primary we strive to provide the tools for every child to become a confident and competent readers whilst nurturing self-belief and a love of reading to underpin aspiration and success for the future.

Early Years and Key Stage 1

We follow the Read Write Inc scheme of teaching phonics. Children learn to read accurately and fluently with good comprehension. They learn to form each letter correctly and spell. Simple and enjoyable mnemonics help all children to grasp the letter-sound correspondences.  

RWI is a fast-paced, rigorous and structured phonics programme. It provides teachers with structure, confidence and skills to deliver high-quality phonics teaching every day and is designed to ensure every child gains the skills to read easily and fluently. Every child is encouraged to read each text for meaning with at least three readings of a story to secure comprehension, and reading with fluency and expression. Children acquire a wide vocabulary through the use of phonetically decodable stories. The teacher clearly explains vocabulary for each text, using the words and phrases in context and allowing the children to do so in talk and their writing. All RWI lessons have partner work at the heart. Children work in pairs and talk together at every stage of the lesson to enhance their spoken language, and embed their understanding.

In Nursery, we have a focus on Phase 1 Phonics which helps the children to develop their listening skills. Nursery do the majority of their learning through rhymes, songs, and listening games. In the summer term Nursery begin to introduce children to letter sounds through RWI. 

Every child in EYFS and KS1 has a daily phonics lesson. This lesson follows the structure of speed sounds and reading a RWI book relating to their current reading level. Early Years and KS1 children are taught in smaller groups based on regular assessments to ensure learning is tailored to individual needs. Ongoing assessments mean that groups are constantly adjusted to ensure the best progress for each child. 

Phonics sessions are taught by teachers and TAs, overseen by the phonics lead to ensure consistency in teaching. In Year 2, the children are grouped based on RWI assessments and their phonics screening results from Year 1.

Phonics sessions focus on the five key principles of RWI: purpose, passion, pace, participation and praise. In a session, children are taught phonemes/digraphs/trigraphs. This knowledge is consolidated through the use of Fred talk, Fred in your head to read words and Fred fingers to spell words. Children are also introduced to speed reading to promote fluency. The second half of phonics sessions focus on reading RWI books. These books are read with a partner.  Children work on the same book for a week to build accurate word reading, fluency and comprehension.  

We have a commitment to narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged and pupil premium children, through quality first teaching, appropriate challenge and targeted intervention.     In Year 1 all children take the national phonics screening assessment which tests the children’s phonic knowledge through reading real and nonsense words.  For those children who have not reached the expected standard in the Phonics Screening there is a continuation of the RWI programme. Regular phonics checks ensure that when children meet the standard during the school year they move out of phonics intervention and access targeted programmes that allow them to practice and develop reading and writing skills.

Key Stage 2

Children that have not meet the expected standard in Phonics at the end of KS1 are also assessed and screened by the SENDCo for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia.  Intervention programmes such as Nessy and Lexia are funded by pupil premium funds - in addition to continuation of Read Write Inc interventions - to ensure all children and particularly the most disadvantaged are supported to close gaps and become confident readers.  

Read Write Inc

To learn more about the teaching of Phonics please click on the links below to the Read Write Inc Website.

• Parent Video - What is Phonics?
• Parent Video - What is Read Write Inc Phonics?
• Parent Video - How to say pure sounds
• Parent Video - Spelling

A Phonics Lesson by Mrs Robinson

A Phonics Writing Lesson by Mrs Robinson

Below is a guide for letter formation.