At Bradford Academy we believe that the teaching of systematic, synthetic phonics is key to our aim of children becoming fluent and confident readers who can apply their knowledge and experience to a range of texts through the primary curriculum.
We use a synthetic phonics programme called Read Write Inc to teach phonics. The programme is split into Set 1 sounds, Set 2 sounds and Set 3 sounds. Children learn to read and write the sounds and read and write words with the sounds in them. Children learn to sound out and blend to read by using ‘Fred Talk’ Children lean to spell by segmenting words using ‘Fred Fingers’.
Children begin learning phonics in Summer term of nursery. They continue their learning throughout Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. Children have a daily phonics lesson where children are taught sounds in a ‘speed sound lesson’ and then are taught to read words and sentences in a guided reading lesson using Read Write Inc storybooks.
Children are assessed each half term to ensure they are taught according to their phonics ability. Children take home Read Write Inc home reading books which are matched to their phonics ability. These are changed twice weekly.
Read Write Inc phonics continues to be taught in Key Stage Two to children who need it.
Children who are struggling or have been identified as having fallen behind access immediate 1-1 intervention three times weekly.
We have worked with our parents, delivering phonics training. If you missed this you are able to access the slides from the training below:
Phonics Screening Test
In June children in Year 1 will sit the phonics screening test. Children who are currently in Year 2 will retake the test if they did not pass it when they were in Year 1. The test consists of 40 words. Some words are real and others are nonsense words. The words contain all the sounds from Set 1, 2 and 3.In previous years the pass mark has been 32/40.
Ask your child’s teacher whether your child is currently learning Set 1, Set 2 or Set 3 sounds in order to support them at home,
Resources
Link to Oxford Owl
Link to YouTube Read, Write, Inc. Channel Films for Parents and Carers – YouTube
