At St Charles’ Catholic Primary School, we use a synthetic phonics programme called ‘Read Write Inc’. Read Write Inc is a method of learning letter sounds and blending them together to read and write words. As part of this, Key Stage One children have daily phonics sessions in small groups where they participate in speaking, listening and spelling activities that are matched to their developing needs.

In Read Write Inc. Phonics pupils:
• Decode letter-sound correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic
knowledge and skills
• Read common exception words on sight
• Understand what they read
• Read aloud with fluency and expression
• Write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
• Spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
• Acquire good handwriting.

The Reading Lead (Miss Ehlen) assesses all children in EYFS to Year Four to track progress. This information is used to regroup pupils each half term and ensure all children make rapid progress. This information will also help staff to identify children who may need additional support.

We make sure that pupils read books that are closely matched to their increasing knowledge of phonics and the common exception words. This is so that, early on, they experience success and gain confidence that they are readers. Re-reading and discussing these books with the teacher supports their increasingly fluent decoding.

Alongside this, the teachers read a wide range of stories, poetry and non-fiction to pupils; they are soon able to read these texts for themselves.

Through the teaching of systematic, synthetic phonics our aim is for children to:

• Become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One allowing children to focus on developing their fluency and comprehension in reading as they move through the school in Key Stage Two.
• Learn correct letter formation when printing in EYFS, which will enable children to develop fluent, joined handwriting by the end of Key Stage One.

Our aim is for pupils to complete the phonics programme as quickly as possible. The sooner they complete it, the sooner they will be able to choose books to read at their own interest and comprehension level. Once children complete the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme they are taught in their year group using Read to Write and Steps to Read. More information can be found on our English Page.

Phonics Support for Parents 

What can you do to help at home?

1. Use pure sounds, not letter names
2. Teach the picture names
3. Practise reading sounds speedily – ‘review, review, review’

4. Use the handwriting phrases for writing only

Here is a useful video explaining how to pronounce sounds correctly

Useful Documents

RWI Booklet 1 for EYFS parents

RWI Booklet for Year 1 Parents

Ten top tips for reading stories to your child

All sounds mat

handwriting phrases

Useful Websites

Ruth Miskin Parents’ Page:

http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/parents/

Ruth Miskin Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/miskin.education

Free e-books for home reading-

http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Reading/

(Your child will have their own login-please speak to your child’s class teacher if you have any problems logging on)

Phonics Screening Check

Phonics Screening Check Information for Parents

Phonics Screening Check Information for Parents