Learning to read
At Foxfields Academy, we want every child to become a confident and fluent reader. We use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to teach phonics. This is a clear and effective programme that helps children learn to read.
In daily lessons, or intervention sessions, children learn to recognise sounds, blend sounds to read words, and build early reading and spelling skills. Our approach helps all children make good progress, whatever their starting point. We check pupils’ learning regularly so we can give extra support when needed and help every child succeed.
The programme is split into different phases. Children are assessed regularly to make sure they are in the right phase for their learning.
Phase 2
• Children begin learning letter sounds (phonemes).
• They start blending sounds to read simple words.
• They read and spell simple words and begin reading short captions.
Phase 3
• Children learn more sounds, including digraphs (two letters making one sound), such as sh, ch and ai.
• They use these sounds to read and spell words.
• They begin reading simple sentences with growing confidence.
Phase 4
• Children practise reading and spelling words with adjacent consonants, such as frog and stamp.
• They build fluency and become more confident readers.
• They use their phonics knowledge when reading longer sentences and short texts.
Phase 5
• Children learn that some sounds can be written in different ways, such as ay, ai and a-e.
• They learn that some letters and groups of letters can be read in different ways.
• They read more challenging words and develop greater fluency.
Reading Practice Books
Children take home a reading book matched to the sounds they have learned in school. This helps them practise reading with confidence and fluency.
Extra Support
Some children may need extra practice to help them keep up. Short support sessions are used to help children build confidence and make progress as part of our reading pathway.
