Early Reading and Phonics

Early Reading and Phonics

At Ellistown Primary School, reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that learning to read is one of the most important skills a child will develop and is fundamental to future success across the curriculum and beyond.

Our aim is for all children to become fluent, confident and enthusiastic readers who read for both pleasure and purpose. Through high-quality teaching, carefully selected texts and regular opportunities to read, we foster a lifelong love of reading.

Phonics

We teach early reading through the Twinkl Phonics DfE-validated systematic synthetic phonics programme. Daily phonics lessons take place throughout EYFS and Year 1, enabling children to develop secure decoding, word recognition and spelling skills.

Reading books are closely matched to children's phonics knowledge so that they can practise and apply the sounds they have been taught successfully.

Spelling and Continued Reading Development

From Year 2 onwards, children follow the Grammarsaurus spelling curriculum, which develops pupils' understanding of spelling patterns, morphology (the structure of words) and etymology (the origins of words).

Children who have not yet secured the expected phonics knowledge continue to receive phonics teaching and intervention, including those who have not met the expected standard in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check. This ensures that every child receives the support they need to become a confident reader.

Supporting Reading at Home

Parents and carers play an important role in developing children's reading skills. We encourage regular reading at home and work closely with families to support children's reading development.

Twinkl Phonics Progression