Early Reading and Phonics

Reading is part and parcel of everyday life at St John the Evangelist CE Primary School. The school seeks not only to teach children the skills they need to read, but also to foster a love and enjoyment of reading.

Phonics

Phonics is taught throughout the school using the Read Write Inc. scheme, which ensures systematic coverage and progression.

Children start phonics when they join our nursery. Phonics is taught in small groups focusing on children's recognition of the letter sounds and how to read and write these.

In Reception and Key Stage 1 children are taught in smaller groups, led either by the class teacher or by trained learning support staff. The children are assessed regularly to ensure that  they are in the appropriate group for supporting and extending their individual needs. Year 1 children take part in statutory Phonics Screening during Term 6, and parents are informed of their child's achievement at the end of the school year.

Read Write Inc. continues to form the basis for the teaching of spelling from Year 2 upwards.

Access a range of e-books online at: Oxford Owl

Click here to view: Phonic support materials for parents

Reading

Guided reading takes place daily throughout the school. The children read once a week with their teacher as part of a small group, and discuss the text as appropriate.

Reading forms an important part of our homework routines. We ask that children read at least five days a week. In Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 we ask parents to record reading done at home in the reading record. In Key Stage 2 children are expected to record their reading for themselves in the reading record. This supports an on going dialogue between home and school.

Each classroom has a reading corner, with a range of books for the children to read in school or borrow to read at home, and all the children have access to the school library, which contains a wide range of fiction and non-fiction.

'Pupils read widely and enjoy the broad range of reading material available to them.' Ofsted 2014