Phonics
Intent:
We know the importance of skilled word reading, involving both speedy decoding and recognition of familiar printed words. For this reason, our focus in EYFS and KS1 is on the recognition and accurate reading of words. We aim to take a systematic approach to phonics and build pupil's speaking and listening skills as well as prepare pupils for learning to read through the development of their phonic knowledge.
Implementation:
'Floppy's Phonics' is used daily to explicitly teach pupils letter-sound combinations through an organised sequence. These lessons provide an opportunity to: revisit past learning, teach new phonemes and graphemes and practice and apply learning. Ongoing monitoring of phonics and timely interventions ensure that our pupils keep up and our planned lessons ensure high levels of motivation and engagement by all pupils. Spelling rules are integrated into our phonic lessons and our pupils are taught different ways of spelling sounds, then they apply their growing knowledge to write words and sentences. Both decodable words and common exception words are taught and in Y2 spelling rules and strategies are a focus to support accuracy.
Teachers carry out formative as well as termly benchmarking assessments to identify gaps in learning and provide appropriate targeted and timely interventions.
Impact:
Pupils will be able to decode, segment and blend in line with 'Floppy's Phonics' and will apply their phonic knowledge in other curriculum subjects. A high percentage of pupils will pass the Y1 phonic screening test and will demonstrate enjoyment and the motivation to read. By the end of KS1, pupils will read accurately and fluently. They will show understanding, the ability to monitor their reading and check that words decoded, makes sense in the context of what is already known.