Phonics and Early Reading 

At Harlowbury we use Read Write Inc. Phonics which is a comprehensive literacy programme designed to get all of our children reading and writing quickly. Importantly, phonics is not taught in isolation.

• Initial and on-going assessment tracks every child’s progress
• Children are grouped by ability so they learn rapidly at the right level
• Partner work means every child participates in the whole lesson
• Our special ‘three reads’ approach ensures every child gains accuracy, fluency and a good understanding of the text 

Short Introduction to Phonics

Find out more here

Reception

We begin the process of learning to read in the Foundation Stage, where we believe that the daily, systematic teaching of phonics is the fastest and most effective way of getting young children to start reading. The children start reception with a daily 20 minute phonics session to introduce them to initial letter sounds. By the end of Reception, it is our expectation that all children can blend and that the vast majority will be reading simple books. 

KS1

The teaching of synthetic phonics continues throughout Years 1 and 2. Our programme is structured in such a way as to ensure the teaching of phonics is systematically delivered and that progress is built on from year to year. Children are taught a series of sounds and then apply these to a series of graded books before moving on to the next set of sounds. By the Spring term of Year 2, it is our expectation that the vast majority of children will be fluent readers and will no longer need explicit phonics teaching for reading.