Phonics

Early reading starts with phonics and developing good phonics skills in younger pupils is vitally important. Phonics provision begins in Nursery and skills are developed daily throughout The Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.  

The school follows a  DFE validated complete systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme called ‘Twinkl Phonics’.

The Programme is split into six levels/phases:

• Level/Phase 1 (Nursery)
• Level/Phase 2 (Reception)
• Level/Phase 3 (Reception)
• Level/Phase 4 (Reception moving into Year 1)
• Level/Phase 5 (Year 1)
• Level/Phase 6 (Year 2)

The Twinkl Phonics Programme offers a coherently planned sequence of lessons that supports the effective teaching of phonics within EYFS and KS1.

Level 1 Twinkl Phonics provides themed teaching packs for nurseries and our preschool to deliver each of the DfE’s Phase 1 phonics aspects. Throughout Level 1, young learners develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to discriminate between and use auditory, environmental and instrumental sounds. Level 1 is taught in the EYFS and runs throughout the teaching of phonics Levels 2-6.

In reception, children work within Levels 2-4. The total number of teaching weeks for Levels 2, 3 and 4 do not fill the whole academic year. This has been planned to allow for additional consolidation if required and assessment time. In Levels 2-4, learners are introduced to phonemes/sounds and graphemes/letters systematically. They also learn to develop and apply blending and segmenting skills for reading and writing.

In KS1, children work within Levels 5 and 6. The coherently planned sequence of lessons within Level 5 allows opportunities for children to apply their phonics knowledge and skills as the prime approach to reading and spelling. It focuses on phonetically decodable two-syllable and three-syllable words and the alternative ways of pronouncing and representing the long vowel phonemes. Furthermore, children will develop their ability to attempt to read and spell increasingly complex words.

During Level 6, children explore spelling patterns and grammar while also developing a breadth of knowledge, skills and understanding in the recognition and spelling of common exception words.

The Twinkl Phonics Programme intends to not only provide children with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding essential for reading and writing, but also, to develop each child’s confidence, resilience and engagement in phonics lessons and a love for reading and writing.

More information about this can be obtained from your class teacher and during the phonics parents meetings.  

Phonics is taught daily for 25 minutes, this is separate to English lessons. Refer to the Phonics Policy and Progression Map for details.

Long-term Spelling Plan

Reception

By the end of Reception, children should be able to read fluently and spell accurately:

Phase 2 High Frequency Words – Decodable and Tricky
a	it	I	at	is
dad	up	if	in	and
mum	back	but	of	into
big	his	him	had	no
on	got	go	an	as
can	off	not	get	the
Phase 3 High Frequency Words – Decodable and Tricky
will	that	then	now	she
this	with	for	he	them
down	me	my	see	too
was	all	look	we	you
her	be	they	are
Phase 4 High Frequency Words – Decodable and Tricky
went	from	children	little	it’s
just	help	said	were	out
like	one	have	do	when
some	come	there	what	so

Year 1

By the end of Year 1, children should be able to read fluently and spell accurately.

Phase 5 High Frequency Words – Decodable and Tricky
don’t	day	old	made	I’m
came	by	make	time	here
saw	house	very	about	your
oh	their	people	Mr	Mrs
looked	called	asked	could
Year 1 Common Exception Words
the	is	no	one	a
his	go	once	do	has
so	ask	to	I	by
friend	today	you	my	School
of	your	here	put	said
they	there	push	says	be
where	pull	are	he	love
full	were	me	come	house
was	she	some	our	we

Year 2

By the end of Year 2, children should be able to read fluently and spell accurately:

Year 2 Common Exception Words
after	child	every	half	move	plant	whole
again	children	everybody	hold	Mr	poor	who
any	Christmas	eye	hour	Mrs	pretty	wild
bath	class	fast	improve	old	prove	would
beautiful	climb	father	kind	only	should
because	clothes	find	last	parents	steak
behind	could	floor	many	pass	sugar
both	cold	gold	mind	past	sure
break	door	grass	money	path	told
busy	even	great	most	people	water

Year 1 phonics test

Since 2012, all children in year 1 undertake a phonics screening test during the summer term. The children are tested on their ability to apply their understanding of phonics to reading a selection of 'words'. Some of these are real and some are not. the tests are taken individually, so your child will sit with their teacher and work through the test.

Once the tests are completed, the school will report to parents whether their child ahs achieved the expected age related standard or not. Children who do not reach the standard in year 1 will be retested in the summer term of year 2.

There will be more information available regarding the tests later on in the academic year and we hold parent phonics meetings and drop in sessions in the Autumn Term. For more information please check into your child's Class Dojo page.

Here are some useful phonics websites you can use to find out more and also practice your phonics at home.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letters-and-sounds-principles-and-practice-of-high-quality-phonics-phase-one-teaching-programme

http://www.letters-and-sounds.com/what-is-letters-and-sounds.html

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ParentsMenu.htm

https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/home/reading-site/expert-help/phonics-made-easy#

Check out Mr Thorne Network on youtube, where Mr Thorne and Geraldine Giraffe practice their phonics!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7sW4j8p7k9D_qRRMUsGqyw