Phonics & Early Reading
Overview
At Bishopstone, Phonics and Early Reading is taught using the Little Wandle Scheme of Work. EYFS and Year One pupils receive a Little Wandle Phonics session every day and take part in group reading sessions every week, using a Little Wandle Big Cat text.
At Bishopstone, we follow a clear ‘Revisit, teach, practice, apply’ approach within all phonics sessions.
EYFS pupils cover Phase 2, Phase 3, and begin Phase 4 within the academic year. Year One pupils consolidate Phase 4 and cover Phase 5, in preparation for Year Two.
Phonics knowledge is consolidated in Year Two alongside following the Little Wandle Spelling Programme (Bridge to Spelling).
Where appropriate, children may receive a Little Wandle phonics intervention to support their learning.
PHONICS SCREENING CHECK
In Year One, children complete the statutory Phonics Screening Check assessment. The children read 40 words (20 alien and 20 real) and are assessed by their class teacher.
Reading at Home
Every Friday, EYFS and Year One pupils bring home the Little Wandle Big Cat text they have read in school. This is their ‘Wow Book!’ and is a chance for them to show off their amazing phonics and decoding skills to you five times a week. These books are returned to school on a Wednesday.
Every Friday, EYFS and Year One children bring home a book they have selected from our school library. This is a shared reading text for you and your child to read and enjoy together! These books are returned to school on a Friday.
Taking opportunities to explore your child’s comprehension of a text is as important as their accuracy of reading. We know that by having great comprehension of a text, children are able to absorb and use the rich vocabulary they are exposed to, empathise with characters, make amazing predictions, and much more!
It is incredibly important that, when reading with your child at home, you are producing the correct phonemes (sounds). A common misconception is adding ‘u’ onto the end. Please watch the following videos, which model the correct pronunciation, and find attached links to pronunciation guides. The videos are designed to be shared with families using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to help at home.
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2
Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1
How we teach blending
This How we teach blending video is designed to be shared with families by schools using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to help them to support learning at home.
//www.youtube.com/embed/IL5YUCPyC5I#t=0.5
EYFS and Year 1 ProgressionPhase 2 GuidePhase 2 Guide (2)Phase 3 Guide