Early Reading
Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write by developing their phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate different sounds used in the English language.
Children learn the correspondence between these sounds and the spelling patterns (graphemes) that represent them.
Many children enter Overchurch Junior School with secure phonic knowledge. However, some children need more time to become familiar with the 44 sounds and corresponding graphemes used in English. At Overchurch Junior School, we place a strong emphasis on teaching these children phonics using a cumulative, systematic, multisensory phonics programme to provide them with a solid foundation in reading and writing. Because not all words in the English language comply with the rules of phonics, we also teach so-called ‘sight words’ by repetition and retrieval.
The Teaching of Early Reading
We use Little Wandle Rapid Catch Up as our Systematic Synthetic Phonics programme.
Rapid Catch Up is a specialised intervention designed for children in Year 2 and above (Key Stage 2) who are not yet reading at age-related expectations. It mirrors the main Little Wandle phonics programme but moves at a significantly faster pace to bridge the gap quickly. Children on the programme will be taught phonics five times a week. This includes three small group reading sessions. Additional 1:1 ‘Keep Up’ sessions are also taught on a daily basis.
The children will read Big Cat Collins books that are matched to their current attainment in reading.
Practising Early Reading at Home
Children will bring home a home reading book which is matched to their phonic level. Research shows that reading the same book several times helps children to increase their reading fluency and word recognition, so we recommend reading this book several times with an adult. Alongside the books your child brings home, seek out books that you and your child enjoy reading. Discuss words that present a challenge, breaking them down into their component sounds in order to read them if necessary. Make sure you set aside quiet time for reading and enjoying books together.
In addition to books, your child will bring home packs of words that can be decoded using their phonics knowledge. Practise reading and spelling these words. Play fun games with them such as thinking of words that rhyme. They are a mixture of decodable words (words that can be sounded out) and sight words/exception words (words in which the English spelling code works in an unusual or uncommon way, which means the words have to be learned and recognised by sight).
Supporting your child with reading
Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:
A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.
A sharing book. Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.
Reading practice book
This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
Sharing book
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.
Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!
Support for phonics
For further guidance and support, please visit the following website: https://www.littlewandle.org.uk/resources/for-parents/#tabnametabHowWeTeach
