Early Reading and Phonics
We follow the Read Write Inc programme in Reception and Key Stage 1. This programme includes a systematic and dynamic whole-school approach to teaching phonics.
Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 follow a phonics programme that supports their individual reading level. As part of the scheme, we also use the Read Write Inc reading books that coincide with the sounds taught in school in one given week. Children complete daily phonics for 30 minutes and are grouped according to their reading level/ability. We teach new sounds then apply learning through reading a RWI book and answer comprehension questions to check reading for meaning.
Teachers carefully choose and send home a corresponding Read Write Inc book-bag book that is a phonetically decodable reading book, containing sounds the children have been taught. The book-bag books also contain useful questions for parents, when discussing the story at home. Children also receive a home reading record, which allows parents to record any information they wish to pass on to the class teacher regarding the books read.
Please find our RWI Progression document below:
What is Read Write Inc Phonics?
In school, we also use Ruth Muskin’s Virtual Classroom to support targetted learning at home. For more information about this, please click here.
Information for parents and families
We regularly invite parents to Reading meetings where we explain how we teach early reading as well as provide guidance on how they can support reading further at home.
With help supporting your child at home with their targeted phase sounds, please set the leaflets below:
Promoting a love of Reading
At Pelton and Beamish Federation we are passionate about developing a love for reading.
Each class regularly visits our school library, where we have a wide range of books including: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry as well as comics. Children can choose a library book to take home and read. We also have built strong links with Stanley library and we visit the library regularly. Each class has a ticket to take out books, chosen by the children to supplement class reading areas at school.
We hold d events such as celebrating World Book Day with library visits and story carousels.
We hold parent reading meetings to provide support and guidance on reading at home.
Reading aloud to our children is very important to us and in our Literacy lessons we offer opportunities to explore different types of books from our reading spine.
In EYFS and KS1, we have a bedtime book box that goes home every week, that contains a year group recommended reader, a cuddly toy and a sachet of hot chocolate to enjoy at bedtime as a family.
Further Information
The success of the Read Write Inc programme has been referenced in ‘HMI Ofsted report Reading by six; How the best schools do it, use Read Write Inc. Phonics.’ Please click the link to find out more.
Gov.UK Reading By Six – How The Best Schools Do It
Further information of the Read Write Inc Phonics program can be found at Oxford University Press – Reading Write Inc.