Phonics at St Luke’s
Phonics teaching is a vital aspect of the English curriculum. At St Luke’s, the teaching of reading is a priority as research shows that being able to read effectively has a positive impact on future life chances. Reading outcomes can be improved through;
· The structured teaching of reading using a systematic, synthetic phonics program
· Encouraging children to develop a love of books by reading to them daily, at home and at school
· Giving children access to a wide range of books at school and at home.
At St Luke’s, we use the Read Write Inc. phonics programme to teach children fluent word reading skills and provide a good foundation for spelling from the earliest opportunity. Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to:
• recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
• identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – such as /sh/ or /oo/; and
• blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
Children can then use this knowledge to ‘decode’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read. Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way – starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex – it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read. Children who receive good teaching of phonics will learn the skills they need to tackle new words. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and to read for enjoyment.
Children in Reception, Year One and Year Two are taught daily phonics lessons and those children who require support with their reading, receive additional daily ‘keep up’ interventions that are delivered by a highly trained member of staff.
Below you will find some resources to support you and your child with phonics at home.
Parent Information Booklets:
Support Videos for Parents