1. Phonics Workshop

2. Learning to read is the most important thing your child will learn at our school. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possibly can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible.

3. We want your child to love reading – and to want to read for themselves. This is why we put our efforts into making sure they develop a love of books as well as simply learning to read.
We read to the children, too, so the children get to know all sorts of stories, poetry and information books. They learn many more words this way and it also helps their writing.

4. What is ‘Read Write Inc?’
The new curriculum states that all children should learn phonics in a systematic approach.
RWI teaches children to read quickly and easily by teaching them one way of reading and spelling the English sounds. It gives children a hook to learn the sound by using pictures in the same shape as the letter.

5. We start by teaching phonics to the children in the Reception class
We start by teaching phonics to the children in the Reception class. This means that they learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down. This is essential for reading, but it also helps children learn to spell well.

6. As children are learning their sounds they begin to blend (read) and segment (spell) simple words containing these sounds. Eg
cat
man
peg
sit
pin
pot
Please encourage your child to apply their sounds at home. Can they write the first sound? Can they sound it out? Children’s writing will not be perfect!

7. Children will also learn how to read and write ‘tricky words’ or ‘red words’ these are words that cannot be sounded out.
the I he
she we me be of

8. two letters one sound or three letters one sound
Set 2 sounds
two letters one sound or three letters one sound

9. When children are beginning to blend simple words they will be given a home reading book.
Here are a few hints and tips to support your child’s reading at home.
Before your child reads their book talk about the front cover. What can they see? What do they think the story will be about? Have we read any books like this before? What is the title? Who is the author?
Most books will have a parents notes section at the front and back of your child’s reading book. It is really useful to read this before you start to read the book as it familiarises your child with key words and common sounds.
Help your child to sound out the letters in words and then to ‘push’ the sounds together to read a whole word.
Repeating the sentence helps your child to develop their understanding of the text.
If your child is unsure of a word ask them to look at the pictures for clues or think about what could come next?
Ask your child questions about the book they are reading.
Read the text more than once, during the early stages of reading it is important that your child gets the opportunity to look at books at least 3 times. Be careful they don’t memorise the text!
Please ensure your child’s reading book and reading diary are in school on a daily basis and please sign and comment your child’s yellow reading diary each time they read to you at home.
Read to your child as often as possible.
• Encourage your child to read a range of texts. Can they read words in the environment eg street signs or food packaging?

10. Phonics Play– lots of free games relating to phonics.
Signed Stories – Lots of stories to watch online.
Topmarks- A range of free games to play online.
Cbeebies- Alphablocks