What is taught?

At our school, we use Pearson Bug Club to teach synthetic phonics. This accredited scheme is closely aligned to Letters and Sounds.

Children begin phonics as soon as they enter Reception class. Phonics is taught daily through a systematic approach. Children are taught within their class and any additional support required is delivered in small groups.

In Reception class, children begin by developing an awareness of sounds through stories, rhymes and games. They quickly move on to learn the links between individual letters and their sounds. There are 44 different sounds to be learnt and again these are taught in a systematic way throughout Early Years and Key Stage 1. The teaching of phonics goes through six phases. A screening test is given at the end of Year 1.

Please view the explanatory video linked below for more information.

How do we teach phonics?

Within Early Years and KS1 classes, whole class phonics is taught in a daily session that lasts between 30 to 40 minutes. Children also work in smaller groups throughout the day. As well as the whole class/ small group sessions, children are immersed in opportunities throughout every day to rehearse, practice and learn. This may be in the form of games played during children’s free time, reading and spotting words on displays around the school, 1:1 reading sessions and plenty of opportunities to write- whether it be on paper or chalk letters across the playground!

Children apply their skills when reading books from the Pearson Bug Club Phonics scheme which match the letters and sounds that they have previously learnt. These books are made available for children to read again at home on personal devices. Our whole school reading scheme follows Big cat. You can find out more on our reading page.

Teachers regularly assess children’s progress to check where they are and what they need to learn next.

How can you help at home?

Teachers post information and activities on class dojo. Here, you can find out which sounds your child is currently working on in class. You are able to help your child read them, spot them in signs on the way to school, write the sounds, read words and sentences that contain the sounds, read the assigned books, play I-spy… the possibilities are endless. When children have the opportunity to work on these skills both in and out of school, their level of understanding and confidence increases greatly.

The other way to make a huge difference to your child’s phonetic awareness is to simply read to and with them regularly. Simple picture books, chapter books- even singing nursery rhymes will all help.

Please take the time to look through the resources available below to see the sounds and words your child is currently working on.