Reading Corner

Phonics Policy

Phonics and early reading policy Jan 2023.pdf

At Lawns Park Primary School, we believe that learning to read is an essential part of every child’s education. As well as teaching children how to read, we aim to foster a love of reading in our children through exposure to exciting and challenging texts

weaved throughout our text-based curriculum.

Learning to Read - Phonics

We follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised Phonics Programme to teach children to read.

Through daily phonics lessons in Foundation Stage and KS1, children are taught to:

* recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;

* identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make- such as ‘sh’ or ‘ay’

* blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.

Children can then use this knowledge to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see.

This is the first important step in learning to read.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

The phonics screening check is statutory and comprises of a short and simple assessment of phonic decoding. It consists of a list of 40 words, half real words and half nonsense words, which Year 1 children read to a teacher. This takes place in June every year.

The check is designed to confirm whether individual pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard and have grasped the essential skills that underpin good reading. Throughout Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 children are regularly assessed and monitored. Children, who are identified as not being on track to reach the expected standard, are given extra support as soon as gaps are identified.

Pupils who have not reached the standard at the end of Year 1 continue to receive extra support to ensure they can improve their phonic decoding skills and are required to take the screening check in Year 2.

Reading Skills

Successful readers need good linguistic knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) and a broad knowledge of the world.

Everyday children throughout school receive explicit teaching of reading skills.

In KS1 and KS2 the sessions are broadly arranged as follows:

Monday – Fluency sessions, that focus on decoding and the vocabulary needed to understand the text.
Tuesday – Explicit teaching of the skill of prosody (expression, intonation and reading for meaning).
Wednesday – Explicit teaching of an aspect of comprehension.
Thursday – Continuing explicit teaching of comprehension.
Friday – Opportunities to practise and apply the skills taught.

Children who need extra support

In KS1 and Foundation Stage as soon as gaps in phonics learning appear a robust system of "Keep Up" is put in place. This is focused, frequent & systematic, the aim of which is to reduce the gap so that pupils can continue learning at expectation for their year group. Where the gaps are wider the school implements a rigorous "Catch Up" programme. As pupils enter KS2, those needing to "Catch Up" with reading receive extra focused support to continue work on fluency, prosody and comprehension. Our Reading Recovery Programme ensures that all pupils practice reading in addition to the provision outlined above. We also mobilise an army of Reading Volunteers and Reading Buddies to ensure all children are heard individually outside of our comprehensive whole school reading provision.

Reading for Pleasure

Books are at the heart of school life at Lawns Park, and we want our children to discover their own genuine love of reading. To do this, we have in place a number of ways to show them that reading is, above all, fun!

Daily Reading Pledge – every day, every class enjoy listening to their teacher read a book.

Reading assemblies – The children have the opportunity to share in a poetry assembly, where Ms Ford chooses a favourite poem to read to them. Also our Book Worms select new books for the library and then advertise them to everyone in assembly.
Inspirational and interactive book corners – each classroom has an inviting book corner with specially selected books for children to borrow. Each class has devised a way of recommending their own favourites to their friends, including teachers!
Library Book Chat – "let’s talk about books". During library time, children can talk about books, to offer recommendations to their friends and to explore the library to choose their next great read.
World Book Day – always a date to look forward to; this is when we get to celebrate our favourite books and authors
Offering a wide range of texts – we know that children, just like adults, all have different tastes when it comes to reading, so we try to offer a wide range such as graphic novels, non-fiction, poetry and weekly publications such as First News
Open Doors – Foundation 2 and Key Stage 1 hold Open Door Reads where parents and carers can come in to class to listen to their children read.
Story Corner – Foundation Stage Teacher invites parents and children to come to the library at the end of the day to enjoy a great story read by the teacher.
Library Club – Children come to explore the library with Mrs Paul. They can sit and read or listen to a story.

Reading at Home

Lawns Park Primary School is passionate about reading! We aspire for all children at Lawns Park to develop a love of reading and to become fluent and expressive readers who can independently unlock the magical worlds offered by books.

With this in mind, every week your child will come home with three books in KS1 and Foundation Stage:

- A phonically decodable book which your child should be able to read independently. This will be accessed weekly as an e book, selected just for your child.
- A book from the phonics phase and set that your child is working in to share. Your child may need support to share this book with you.
- A library book
In KS2 your child will come home with two books:
- A book band book which your child should be able to read with 90+% independence
- A library book

Phonically Decodable E Books

This is a book which is closely matched to the phonics learning that your child is secure at. Your child should be able to read these books independently. These books need to be read as frequently as possible but at least once during the week, so that your child can shine! This will help the children to develop fluency, pace and expression.

We will make sure that your child can read this book without adult help.

Colour Banded Book

This is a book chosen by your child from a selection of books at the Colour Band Level they are working within.

Library Book

This is chosen by your child from our school library. It is for you and your child to enjoy together. Encourage your child to talk about the book and join in where possible.

If you need any information or help then please come and speak to your child’s class teacher.

Linda the Lawns Park Lending Owl

Anyone can take a book and leave a book so they can get something new to read and share books that they love with our school community. We would like children to bring in a book in order to swap it – you can of course bring in more than one book. The book or books should be in a usable condition; however, please remember you will be giving it away in exchange for fresh reading material – books will not be returned. The library will be open to all of the school community!

Volunteer Readers

We actively encourage members of the local community to work in the school as volunteer readers and their role is to hear children read on a one to one basis, within the classroom. They are an invaluable resource in supporting children’s reading at Lawns Park.

All volunteer readers are required to have a Disclosing and Barring Services check (DRB) when working in the school and we make sure that they receive training and ongoing support.