Phonics is a way of teaching children to read and write. It is the ability to hear, identify and manipulate sounds, and to understand the link between the sound (phoneme) and the way it is written (grapheme). 

To teach phonics, we follow the Read Write Inc. programme because it is a proven, effective method of ensuring children get the best start to their reading life. For several years, we have had great success using Read Write Inc to teach early reading and phonics and our children tell us that they love it! This scheme prepares children for learning to read and write by developing their phonics knowledge and skills. We move children on quickly so that they make quick progress in their reading and put in place additional phonics intervention to support pupils to catch up where they are struggling with their reading. 

We make sure that our children are accurate and fluent readers and that through this, children can achieve success and grow in confidence across the curriculum.

We want our children to learn to read, to love to read and to read to learn across the curriculum. 

Children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 take part in a daily phonics lesson for 30 minutes. For children who need additional support, extra sessions are timetabled to make sure children are given the opportunity to catch up and address gaps in their phonetic ability. Phonics teaching takes place in Key Stage 2 for those pupils who require additional support to help them to catch up in 1:1 or small group settings. 

The members of staff responsible for the teaching of early reading are: Miss A Clapson (phonics leader) and Mr R Wilson (Deputy Headteacher).