Quality phonics teaching is a high priority at Wyndham. Based around the Letters and Sounds programme, phonics lessons allow children to learn about how letters link to sounds, how to blend sounds to read and how to segment letters to write words and sentences. We are passionate about our children and understand that they are most engaged in their learning during fun and active lessons and so offer well-planned and varied sessions which challenge children to make GREAT progress. Phonics bingo, outdoor grapheme hunts and a range of ICT programmes such as Phonics Bug and Education City are just a few of the innovative ways we use to ensure that children get the most out of their learning. This learning is then applied across the curriculum in order to embed the principles of phonics and to enable children to achieve their full potential. It is taught three times a day to FS and KS1 children for 20 minutes per session in ability groups. This allows teachers to differentiate activities according to individual children's needs and offer daily, targeted support.
Children are also regularly assessed to ensure they are accessing learning at the correct level using our tracking system (see below). This allows teachers to understand which sounds children require more support in and interventions are swiftly put in place in order to target such areas. Subsequently, children are able to learn, practise and consolidate their phonics knowledge in order for them to become confident readers and spellers during their time at Wyndham.
Children are also assessed in year 1 using the 'Phonics Screening Check'. This is carried out nationally and is a short assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by us to improve their reading skills. Below is an example of the 2015 screening check and will help you to understand the assessment your child will face at the end of year 1. Remember you can help your child by using practice materials such as these, use phonics flashcards in which children are able to practise sounds they have learnt or by using online programmes such as Phonics Bug and Education City via your child's log in to enable them to practise their learning with you at home.
Education City
http://www.educationcity.com/
Bug Club
https://www.activelearnprimary.co.uk/login?c=0
