Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language. Written language can be compared to a code, so knowing the sounds of individual letters and how those letters sound when they’re combined will help children decode words as they read. Understanding phonics will also help children know which letters to use when they are writing words.
At St. Andrew’s Chardstock, phonics is taught using a structured daily approach suited to the ages and abilities of the children. The Letters and Sounds programme is used for Nursery children followed by The Early Reading Programme (ERP) in Reception and Key Stage 1.
Children in Nursery begin with Letter and Sounds Phase 1 which provides a range of playful activities to develop listening and sound identification skills. Progress is regularly tracked. As children move into Reception they continue to build upon these skills and are introduced to The Early Reading Programme. This is a systematic synthetic phonics programme designed to teach the first stages of reading (decoding) and spelling (encoding). The programme is designed by Educational Psychologists and is based upon extensive research into the most effective ways of teaching reading.
Twice daily, each session gives an opportunity for children to revisit their previous experience, be taught new skills, practise together and apply what they have learned.
Children’s progress is continually reviewed and they are formally assessed at the end of each term.
The national Phonics screening check is performed in June of Year 1. The purpose of the screening check is to confirm that all children have learned phonic decoding to an age-appropriate standard. The children who did not meet the required standard for the check in Year 1 enter again in Year 2 with additional support. As children enter KS2, provision is made for those children still requiring daily phonics.
19 Nov 2019
Today we have been learning the rhyme baa baa black sheep. The children have enjoyed making sheep cupcakes and painting sheep pictures.
18 Oct 2019
Today in little acorns went on a number walk around the village we found lots of numbers on signs, houses, on the road and in the post office.
