Phonics (Early Reading)

Phonics is a method of teaching children to read and write by linking sounds (phonemes) to the letters or groups of letters (graphemes) that represent them. It's a foundational skill that unlocks the ability to decode words, build fluency, and ultimately comprehend text.

How We Teach Reading: Read Write Inc. Phonics

At Southfields Primary School, we are passionate about igniting a lifelong love of reading in every child, and we firmly believe that strong phonics skills are fundamental to all learning. That's why we use the highly successful Read Write Inc. (RWI) Phonics programme to teach children to read and write quickly, confidently, and effectively.

What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?

RWI Phonics is a comprehensive and inclusive literacy programme. It systematically teaches children the 44 common sounds in the English language (phonemes) and how to blend these sounds together to read words (decoding). At the same time, children learn to segment words into their individual sounds to spell them (encoding).

These vital skills are taught through lively, fast-paced daily sessions, ensuring continuity and accelerating progress. The programme is used for:

All children in Reception to Year 2 as they learn to read and write.
Targeted catch-up support for any pupils in Years 2, 3, and 4 who need to rapidly improve their reading and writing.
Specialised instruction for struggling readers in Years 5 and 6 through the 'Read Write Inc. Fresh Start' programme.

Through RWI, your child will learn to decode words effortlessly, read common exception words (those tricky words that don't follow typical phonics rules) by sight, and understand what they read. They'll also develop the ability to read aloud with fluency and expression and to spell quickly and easily.

How we implement RWI

Our staff are all highly trained in RWI delivery, ensuring a consistent and effective approach across the school. Children are regularly assessed and grouped according to their reading ability, not their age, so that teaching is precisely tailored to their individual needs. These groups are regularly reviewed and adjusted to ensure continuous progress.

A key feature of RWI is partner work, where children explain and consolidate their learning by "teaching" each other. This not only strengthens their understanding but also allows our teachers to quickly identify and address any misconceptions.

Our Approach to Home Reading

We are committed to helping every child become a confident home reader. We carefully support pupils in selecting books to take home, considering the level of support available at home:
- For children who may have less support with reading at home, we provide books they have already read and mastered during their RWI lessons. This ensures they feel confident and successful when reading independently, building a positive association with books.
- All pupils also take home new stories and non-fiction texts that have been read to them in school. We discuss these texts and introduce new vocabulary in class, ensuring all children can access and engage with rich literature.
- Familiar picture books are also sent home, encouraging children to retell stories aloud and recall details and vocabulary, further developing their comprehension skills.
Crucially, our RWI staff use ongoing assessments to ensure that every book your child takes home perfectly matches their current phonics phase, allowing them to decode easily and enjoy their reading journey.

Parental Involvement

We believe that parental partnership is essential for successful learning. We aim to keep you well-informed about our RWI programme through:
- Information readily available on our school website.
- Parent information meetings held throughout the academic year.
- Occasional RWI homework to provide opportunities for support at home.
We strongly encourage you to visit the link for the Ruth Miskin Training website's dedicated parent page, which offers a wealth of valuable resources and videos to support your child's reading journey at home

http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/parents/