Early Reading and Phonics
At the Anglo-Portuguese School of London, we believe that learning to read is one of the most important things our children will learn. Reading opens the door to learning, develops imagination and vocabulary, and helps children become confident, independent learners.
We use Read Write Inc. Phonics (RWI) as our systematic phonics programme. RWI gives children the knowledge and skills they need to become accurate, fluent and enthusiastic readers. Our phonics teaching currently starts in Reception and follows a very specific sequence that allows children to build on their previous phonics knowledge and master specific phonics strategies.
From 2027, we will have a Nursery class, our phonics programme will commence from Nursery when that class opens.
Read Write Inc. Phonics
Read Write Inc. is a structured programme that teaches children to read by developing their knowledge of phonics – the relationship between sounds and the letters that represent them.
Children learn to:
- recognise and say the sounds represented by letters and groups of letters;
- blend sounds together to read words;
- segment words into sounds to support spelling;
- read common exception words;
- develop fluency and accuracy when reading;
- understand and talk about what they have read;
- develop a love of books and reading.
Children are taught the pure sounds represented by the letters, rather than adding an 'uh' sound. This helps them to blend sounds together successfully when reading unfamiliar words.
How phonics is taught
Phonics is taught systematically from the beginning of Reception. Children take part in regular, carefully structured RWI sessions matched to their stage of learning.
Sessions include opportunities to:
- Learn and practise sounds
Children learn new sounds and review those they already know. - Read words
Children practise blending sounds to read words. - Read books
Children read carefully matched RWI books that contain the sounds and words they have been taught. - Develop comprehension
As children become more fluent, they develop their understanding of vocabulary, characters, events and the meaning of what they read. - Practise spelling and writing
Children apply their phonics knowledge to spell words and write sentences.
Children are grouped according to their current phonics knowledge and are assessed regularly so that teaching can be adapted to meet their needs. The class teachers in Reception, teach all phonics groups.
Reading books
An important part of RWI is that children read books that are closely matched to the sounds they have been taught. This means that children can practise their developing skills successfully and experience the confidence and enjoyment that comes from being able to read a book independently.
We encourage children to read their school reading book regularly at home and to share a wide range of other books with their families.
Once children have developed secure phonics knowledge and fluency, they continue to develop their reading through our wider reading curriculum and enjoy an increasingly broad range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
Reading at home
Parents and carers play a vital role in helping children become confident readers.
We encourage families to:
- read with your child regularly;
- listen to your child read their school reading book;
- ask questions about what they have read;
- talk about unfamiliar words and their meanings;
- share books together and read stories aloud;
- encourage your child to talk about characters, events and ideas;
- visit your local library and help your child choose books they enjoy.
Reading aloud to children remains important even when they can read independently. Sharing stories, poems and non-fiction helps children develop vocabulary, background knowledge, imagination and a lifelong love of reading.
Supporting your child with phonics
When helping your child to read unfamiliar words, encourage them to look carefully at each sound and then blend the sounds together.
For example:
m – a – t → mat
Try to avoid asking children to guess a word from the pictures or the first letter. Instead, encourage them to use the phonics knowledge they have been taught.
If you are unsure about how to pronounce a sound or how best to support your child at home, please speak to your child's class teacher or our phonics lead.
Developing a love of reading
Phonics is the foundation for learning to read, but reading is about much more than phonics. At [School Name], we want every child to develop a genuine love of books.
Our children experience a rich range of stories, traditional tales, poetry and non-fiction. We share books together, talk about authors and illustrators, build vocabulary and encourage children to make connections between what they read and their own experiences and the wider world.
Our aim is for every child to leave primary school able to read fluently, understand what they read and choose to read for pleasure.
Useful information for parents
For further information about Read Write Inc. Phonics and supporting your child with reading, please speak to the school or visit the official Read Write Inc. resources.
