What is Phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully.  They are taught how to:

* recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;

* identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make - such as 'sh' or 'oo'; and

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

Children can then use this knowledge to solve new words that they hear or see.  This is the first step in learning to read.

What is the Phonics Screening Check?

The phonics screening check is a quick and easy check of each child's phonics knowledge.  It helps our school to confirm whether a child has made the 'expected' progress.  

The check will take place during the month of June. 

The phonics screening check is a list of 40 words (some real words and some non-words) that children read one-to-one with a teacher. Children may have read some of the words before, whilst others will be completely new.  Non-words are important to use because words such as 'jap' or 'jound' are new to all children and therefore cannot be read by memory. This type of reading activity is not untypical in our school and therefore children do not feel pressured or uncomfortable in any way.  In fact our children usually 'bounce in' to read with their teacher and are excited by the experience. The check normally takes just a few minutes to complete and there is no time limit.  If a child is struggling, the teacher will stop the check.

Children who have not met the standard in Year 1 will retake the check in Year 2.

Parents and carers - click the link below for the Departments for Education Phonic Guide:

THINGS THAT PARENTS CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD'S READING:

• Sit with your child every night and engage with them in their reading.  Please look at the teacher's comments and make your own comments in the Homework Book.
• Encourage your child to 'sound-out' unfamiliar words and blend the sounds together from left to right.
• Discuss with your child what they have read in the book.
• Ask them to retell the story.
• Talk about any interesting words and their meanings, or any interesting phrases which your child may 'borrow' (magpie) and use in their own writing.
• Visit the local library with your child.
• Read to your child often.
• Play the phonic games sent home from school.
• Play word games like 'I Spy.'