How we teach phonics

• In the nursery, children follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised ‘Foundations for Phonics’ guidance. The focus is on daily oral blending and language development through high quality stories and rhymes.
• In reception and year 1, children follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday.
• Phonics starts in reception in week 2 to ensure the children make a strong start.
• By the end of reception, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 4.
• By the end of year 1, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 5.
• Reception lessons start at 10 minutes, with daily additional oral blending – increasing to 30 minutes as soon as possible.
• Year 1 lessons are 30 minutes long.
• In Y2-Y3, phonic lessons are taught daily to children who still have gaps by following the 'rapid catch up' scheme which follows on from the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. The teachers ensure to plug specific gaps identified through the teacher's assessment.

Reading practice sessions

• Children across reception, year 1 and year 2 apply their phonics knowledge by using a fully matched decodable book in a small group reading practice session.
• These sessions are 15 minutes long and happen three times a week. There are approximately 6-8 children in a group.
• The sessions follow the model set out in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
• The children then take the same book home to ensure success is shared with the family.

How do we assess phonic knowledge?

• In reception and year 1, at the end of each week there is a review session which recaps the learning. There are also whole review weeks (pre-planned and bespoke review weeks to address gaps identified by the class teacher’s ongoing formative assessment).
• Children identified in reception and year 1 as in danger of falling behind are immediately identified and daily ‘keep up’ sessions are put in place – sessions follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
• In reception and year 1, the children are assessed at the end of every half term using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised assessment tracker.
• The children in year 1 take part in the Phonics Screening Check in the summer term.
• Children who do not pass the Phonics Screening Check in year 1, will re-sit this in year 2.
• Children who are in Y2-Y6 and need ‘catch up’ sessions are assessed through the teacher’s ongoing formative assessment as well as half termly summative assessments.