Early Reading

As soon as pupils join us in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) we immerse them in a language rich environment that promotes reading, writing and verbal communication.

At our school we will:

• Provide every child with the means to develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills by sharing stories, poems and rhymes
• Develop children’s communication and language skills to ensure they can listen to, attend to and understand the language around them;
• Use a systematic, synthetic phonics system to ensure all children are taught early reading skills;
• Create opportunities for children to read and re-read fully decodable books matched to their phonics stage;
• Provide opportunities within child-initiated, adult-initiated and adult-directed activities for all children to apply and rehearse early phonics and reading skills in a range of contexts;
• Effectively use assessment to identify children who may not be making the expected progress, and immediately give targeted support to meet their specific needs;
• Provide challenge to children who are applying and using phonic skills early on in their school journey, to ensure they continue to move forward in their learning

Early reading and phonics skills are nurtured and developed across the continuous provision in the EYFS, giving pupils the opportunity to apply their skills in a range of play-based activities and meaningful contexts. Adults are highly skilled in providing guidance, support and challenge to pupils as they practise and consolidate their early reading skills. Alongside our continuous provision, sessions are planned to ensure pupils develop strong communication & language, phonics, reading and writing skills, during their time across EYFS and into Year 1.

At Norton C P School we teach reading through Read Write Inc. This is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics to children from their arrival in the school, whether that be in the nursery (FS1) or Reception (FS2) classes.

In Read Write Inc. Phonics, pupils:

• Decode letter-sound correspondences quickly and effortlessly, using their phonic knowledge and skills
• Read common exception words on sight
• Understand what they read
• Read aloud with fluency and expression
• Write confidently, with a strong focus on vocabulary and grammar
• Spell quickly and easily by segmenting the sounds in words
• Acquire good handwriting skills
• In addition to this, pupils will learn how to work effectively with a partner to explain and practise key phonics skills.

At Norton C P School, we group pupils according to ability for phonics. Pupils are grouped according to their progress in reading. Throughout FS2, we emphasise the alphabetic code. Pupils will rapidly learn sounds and the letter or groups of letters needed to represent them. Simple mnemonics help them to grasp this quickly.

Handwriting Phrases

Pupils have frequent practise in reading high frequency words with irregular spellings (these are known as Common Exception Words).

We ensure pupils read books that are closely matched to their increasing knowledge of phonics and the common exception words. Pupils will read and re-read these books at school over several days to support their ability to decode words fluently and also so that they experience success and gain confidence as readers. There are two types of reading books that pupils may bring home:

• A reading practise book. This may be a RWI Ditty or book matched to the correct phonic stage for the pupil. They should be able to read this with a degree of fluency and independence.
• A sharing book. Pupils will not be able to read this on their own. This is for the pupil and their family to read and enjoy together.

In addition to this, teachers will provide Oxford Owl eBook login details for each pupil in their class. This will enable pupils and their families to access a range of RWI reading practise books from home.

At Norton C P School, we realise the importance of reading a wide range of stories, poetry and non-fiction texts to the pupils. Across school pupils will hear high quality texts, read by an adult, daily.

We aim for all pupils to complete the RWI programme as quickly as possible, for most pupils this will be by the end of Year 1. Here is an overview of what your child will be learning during their time in the EYFS and Year 1.

Phonics Progression Map EYFS and KS1

Throughout the school day, pupils across school will have many opportunities to apply their phonic skills. While there are focussed phonics sessions for children, they will have opportunities to practise and apply their developing skills. . We have a strong focus on language development for our pupils at Norton C P School because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects and also for being well-rounded individuals.

Reading is a life skill and crucial to all pupils. By the time pupils reach Year 6 we aim to ensure that they can read confidently, with a deep understanding of a wide range of texts and they regularly enjoy reading for pleasure. We teach children the skills to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary and challenging texts so that they can enjoy all of the benefits of a rich literary environment and heritage, broadening their horizons, educating themselves and others through reading and being able to build on their cultural capital by exploring the wider world through literature.