Phonics and Spelling

At Calder Vale St John’s Primary School we believe becoming fluent and comprehensive readers is the key to accessing learning across the whole curriculum. Phonics lessons are taught from EYFS, throughout KS1 and conclude when the children are confident, fluent and skilful readers and writers. Teachers plan using a rigorous assessment and progression of phonics and deliver discrete daily sessions that are multisensory and engaging. Opportunities to apply their knowledge of phonics is evident in all aspects of our curriculum.

Our pupils will experience;

A discrete daily phonics session
Focused directed teaching involving oral and written practice of letters and sounds;
A variety of teaching methods, including demonstration, modelling, games, singing and other practical activities.
Repetition and teaching of ‘tricky’ words.

What does a phonics session look like in our school?

Part 1: Revisit

Part 2: Teach

Part 3: Practise

Part 4: Apply ( This might take place in provision for EYFS or as an introduction to a phonics session for Year 1/2 due to our mixed age context.)

We noticed that our children made superb progress in phonics when we added story, music and rhyme. As a school and with the children, we created pictures and rhymes to help us read. Sometimes we add pop music and disco lights too!

How do we pronounce the sounds we use in phonics?

Phonics PowerPoints

How do we assess phonics?

Assessment and Progression

Phonics Overviews and Trajectories

All of our Reception and Year 1 children complete a phonics session daily. We begin readying and writing graphemes at Phase 2 and work through Phase 3 and Phase 4 by the end of Reception. In Year 1, we consolidate Phase, 3 4 and progress into reading in Phase 5. In Year 2, we consolidate our learning of Phase 5 graphemes and build up our reading fluency and stamina. As spellers, we learn to spell Phase 5 graphemes.

Some of our children continue their phonics journey into Key Stage 2. We use a bespoke programme to address the needs of our learnings in phonics. Gaps in children's reading and spelling are identified and targeted in English lessons as a part of their reading and spelling development. Our staff have received up to date training to enable them to deliver effective phonics sessions.