Phonics
At Stamford Park Primary School, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach early reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised - a systematic, synthetic phonics programme designed to teach children the skills of reading needed for accessing our school’s holistic curriculum. We start to teach phonics in Reception, following the Little Wandle progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, systematically, so that they can master phonics to read and spell words as they move through school.
The Little Wandle programme overview can be found here.
Each year, in the autumn term, we deliver an information evening for parents so that they can find out more about Little Wandle.
Why learning to read is so important:
- Reading is essential to access all areas of the curriculum
- Positive attitudes to reading and choosing to read have academic, social and emotional benefits for children
How children learn to read:
- Phonics is the only route to decoding
- Learning to say the phonic sounds (phonemes)
- By blending phonic sounds to read words
- Increasing children’s fluency in reading sounds, words and books
Reading fully decodable books
- Children must read books consistent with their phonic knowledge.
- It is essential not to use other strategies to work out words (including guessing words, deducing meaning from pictures, grammar, context clues or whole word recognition)
- Books must be fully decodable and follow the Little Wandle scheme progression
- Children need to read books in a progressive sequence until they can decode unfamiliar words confidently
The role of Parents’ and Carers’
Supporting your child with reading
There are two different types of books that pupils bring home: reading practice and books to share for pleasure.
Children take home books they have read at school to re-read at home to build fluency.
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home. Please see this video for further information: Reading at Home
You can have a positive impact on your child’s reading by:
- Modelling the importance of reading practice to develop fluency
- Use voice, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next
- Give positive, yet informative feedback in the home reading record once a week
There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:
- A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.
- A sharing book. Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.
Reading practice book
This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing book
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!
Phonics Speech Sound Articulation
These videos are designed to be shared with families by schools following Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised.
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2
Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1
Phase 5 sounds taught in Year 1
Useful Resources
Pronunciation Guide - Phase 2 Autumn 1
Pronunciation Guide - Phase 2 Autumn 2
Pronunciation Guide - Phase 3 Spring 1