The aim of our approach to English is to equip all pupils with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to be proficient readers and writers and to be ready for the next stage of their education. We develop pupils’ oracy and wider understanding of language, have a systematic approach to phonics and early reading that integrates both decoding and comprehension, develop fluency in reading to support understanding, and use high quality, thought provoking texts and multi-modal resources to expose pupils to an ambitious English curriculum. Reading , writing (including phonics and spelling) and oracy are the springboards to life-improving opportunities.

Phonics

At Ryecroft Academy we aim to develop the full potential of all our pupils as confident, literate readers and writers. If children are to develop as competent readers and writers, it is vitally important that they have a secure understanding of the letter sounds and spelling system of the English language.

Here at Ryecroft, children develop this understanding through daily phonics lessons taught throughout EYFS, Key Stage 1 and KS2, where appropriate. We believe high quality phonics teaching is the prime means by which we teach children how to read and spell words. We use the Government approved Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme for teaching phonics. The programme draws upon the latest research into how children learn best; how to ensure learning remains in children’s long-term memory and how best to enable children to apply their learning to become highly competent readers. The programme uses the following key features to ensure that phonics is highly effective, and children have the greatest chance of being successful:

  • Direct teaching in frequent, short bursts;
  • Consistency of approach across all classes and groups of children attending phonics sessions which will ensure consistency of learning approaches experienced by children;
  • Secure, systematic progression in phonics learning;
  • Maintaining an effective pace of learning;
  • Providing repeated practice;
  • Application of phonics using matched decodable books;
  • Early identification of children at risk of falling behind, linked to the provision of effective keep-up support.

The aim of our phonics lessons is to support children to become highly competent readers in order for them to access the full curriculum, being successful in reading supports children not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. It is essential that phonics is taught until children become automatic and fluent readers. Alongside this, it is important that children make sense of what they read, to enable this, we ensure that children have a wide range of opportunities, including reading session three times a week to develop their comprehension and vocabulary.

For more information about the scheme we use please follow the below link to the parents section of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised website. You can also find some useful information within your child’s planner.