PHONICS AND READING:

We teach early reading through the validated systematic, synthetic phonics programme 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised'. In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, phonics is taught daily for at least 20 minutes, separate to the English session. In Reception, we build from 10-minute lessons, with additional daily oral blending games, to the full-length lesson as quickly as possible. Each Friday, we review the week’s teaching to help children become fluent readers. 

 We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised expectations of progress: 

• • Children in Reception are taught to read and spell words using Phase 2 and 3 GPCs, and words with adjacent consonants (Phase 4) with fluency and accuracy. 
  • Children in Year 1 review Phase 3 and 4 and are taught to read and spell words using Phase 5 GPCs with fluency and accuracy.  
  • Children in Year 2 are taught gaps in their phonics knowledge up until Christmas, after this if needed a child will follow the Little Wandle Rapid Catch up programme 

Any child who needs additional practice has daily Little Wandle Keep-up support, taught by a fully trained adult. Keep-up lessons match the structure of class teaching, and use the same procedures, resources and mantras, but in smaller steps with more repetition, so that every child secures their learning. 

We timetable daily phonics lessons for any child in Year 2 or 3 who is not fully fluent at reading or has not passed the Phonics Screening Check. These children urgently need to catch up, so the gap between themselves and their peers does not widen. We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised assessments to identify the gaps in their phonic knowledge and teach to these using the Keep-up resources – at pace.   

If any child in Year 3 to 6 has gaps in their phonic knowledge when reading or writing, we follow Little Wandle's Rapid Catch up programme to address specific phonics gaps. 

GUIDED READING 

At Trinity Church of England/Methodist Primary School classes are split into 5 guided reading groups, based on ability. 

EYFS and KS1 Guided Reading 

The school follows the Big Cat Collins reading scheme as the main reading book in EYFS and KS1 as this links to the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression. In Reception and early Key Stage 1, whilst children are in the earlier stages of becoming fluent readers, reading books are matched to the stage of phonics learning the children have encountered.  This ensures that the children can decode the words they meet in their reading.  Children complete 2/3 reading sessions in school reading the same book, focusing on decoding, prosody (re-reading for fluency and expression) and comprehension. We then send this book home to read and discuss.  A Home/School Reading Diary is completed each time a guided reading session takes place to inform parents of the focus of the reading session and the child’s progress.  There is a section for the parent to fill in at home to provide feedback.

KS2 Guided Reading 

In Key Stage 2 the majority of the books are Project X, Tree Tops classics, Pearson Bug Club and Collins Big Cat, with some poetry and non-fiction texts to supplement the scheme.  Children will complete 1-2 guided reading sessions in school each week, focusing on decoding, prosody (re-reading for fluency and expression) and comprehension. This book will remain in school. A Home/School Reading Diary is completed each time a guided reading session takes place to inform parents of the focus of the reading session and the child’s progress.  There is a section for the parent to fill in at home to provide feedback.  Years 3, 4 and 5 will bring home a home reading book which is changed every 1-2 weeks. Year 6 will bring home a weekly comprehension homework activity based on an extract of text.  

Supporting your child with reading:
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing to read at home.

• There are two different types of books that children bring home: a guided reading book and books to share for pleasure from the school library.
• Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.
• Parents should use voices, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next in the story. 
• Give positive yet informative feedback in the home reading diary at least 3 times a week.