We aim for children to read words and simple sentences by the end of Reception and become successful, confident and fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1."
English Curriculum
English overview
Our vision at Spring Meadow is for all children to develop a lifelong love of English and an enjoyment for literature. All children are provided with a great range of opportunities to develop and apply their English skills across the curriculum.
We aim to equip all children with the essential skills they will need for the rest of their educational journey and future careers. By the time they leave our school, we aim for all children to be able to express themselves clearly orally and in writing, take part in discussions, read fluently and have a broad and varied vocabulary. We ensure that all children are supported and encouraged to have high aspirations so they can reach their full potential.
Phonics
Intent
At Spring Meadow we use the Read Write Inc. phonics programme. We aim for children to read words and simple sentences by the end of Reception and become successful, confident and fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1.
Implementation
Daily phonics and additional tutoring sessions teach the children all of the sounds and their matching graphemes, as well as learning how to blend these in order for them to decode words on a page. We follow the systematic approach of Read Write Inc. to plan and sequence lessons where children build upon their knowledge.
Every child is given a fully decodable reading book which is tailored to their level. This ensures that children develop an enjoyment for reading as they are able to decode every word.
Children also learn to read and spell common exception words, which are words that do not rely on phonic knowledge. Read Write Inc. provides the opportunity to learn new sounds and revisit previous learning, practise and apply new skills in a structured but engaging way. The sounds taught in phonics lessons are referred to throughout the rest of the curriculum to consolidate, practise and apply the sounds which have been taught.
Impact
We believe that phonics provides the foundations of learning to make the development into fluent reading and writing easier. Through daily, systematic and consistent high quality phonics teaching, children learn to segment words to support their spelling ability and blend sounds to read words.
Children can then focus on developing their fluency and comprehension throughout the school. Attainment in phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1.
