Blackfield
Phonics & Early Reading
Learning to Read at Blackfield
At Blackfield Primary and Nursery School, we believe that learning to read confidently and fluently is one of the most important foundations for children's future success.
We teach early reading through Read Write Inc. Phonics, a systematic synthetic phonics programme. Children are taught to recognise sounds, blend them together to read words and develop increasing accuracy, fluency and confidence as readers.
Children's progress is assessed regularly so that teaching can be closely matched to their stage of reading development. Children who need additional support receive extra practice and targeted intervention to help them keep up and catch up.
Read Write Inc. Phonics
We follow the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme to provide a consistent and carefully sequenced approach to the teaching of early reading.
Through the programme, children:
- learn the sounds represented by letters and groups of letters;
- learn to blend sounds together to read words;
- read books that are closely matched to the sounds they have been taught;
- develop fluency and expression through repeated reading;
- develop their understanding of what they read;
- practise spelling and writing alongside their reading.
Teaching begins in Reception and continues through Key Stage 1. Children in Key Stage 2 who have not yet secured the necessary phonics knowledge continue to receive appropriate phonics teaching and support.
RWI Phonics: A Guide for Parents
Keeping Up and Catching Up
We want every child to become a successful reader.
Children's phonics knowledge and reading progress are assessed regularly. This allows us to quickly identify children who are at risk of falling behind and provide additional teaching and practice.
Our aim is for children to keep up rather than need to catch up, while providing intensive and carefully targeted support where this is required.
Supporting Reading at Home
Parents and carers play an important part in helping children become confident readers.
Children take home reading material that supports the phonics knowledge they are developing in school. We encourage families to read regularly with their children and to enjoy sharing a wide range of books and stories together.