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Phonics

 

What is Phonics?

 We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily engaging phonics lessons. In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching is specific to each learner, depending on the Phase they are working on. At Strathmore we model these strategies in shared reading and writing both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on the development of language skills and communication for our learners because we know that attention and listening, are the start of communication.

How we teach phonics:

• Phase 1 learners follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised ‘Foundations for Phonics’ guidance and our own Strathmore Planning. The focus is on daily oral blending and language development through high quality stories and rhymes, listening and attention skills.
• Phase 2, 3, 4 and 5 learners follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and is differentiated to match the learner’s phonic ability. The learners may focus on a particular grapheme for a set amount of time and then develop their segmenting and blending skills throughout the term. This will include different Strathmore Strategies to support their working memory, engagement, and focus.
• Each phonics sessions (Phase 2 up) is always working on the same structure each day, revise and revisit, teach and practice, practice and apply.
• The session can be taught through whole class activities, small groups or 1:1 depending on the class cohort.

Learning to read matters for every child or young person, regardless of their starting points or learning needs. This is why Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised offers several pathways, enabling schools to create a suitable route to reading for every child.

Please download attachments below for examples and more information.