“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr Suess
Intent
At St Finian's, we want to ensure that all children become confident, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1.
Using the West Berkshire Flying Start in Letters and Sounds scheme, we provide a systematic, high-quality phonics programme that builds foundations for lifelong reading and writing. Our intent is to:
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Develop children's phonemic awareness, decoding and blending skills from the earliest stages of learning.
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Ensure consistency and progression across EYFS and Key Stage 1.
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Close gaps quickly so that all children, including those with SEND or disadvantaged backgrounds, keep up rather than catch up.
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Instil a love of reading through fluency, comprehension and confidence.
Implementation
- Systematic Approach: Children are introduced to new sounds which become embedded through repetitive practice and application both at school and at home. Children make progress in steady, incremental steps, following a pathway from Phase 1 through to Phase 6.
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Daily Phonics Sessions: Discrete phonics is taught every day in EYFS and KS1 by trained staff using the scheme's structured plans, decodable texts and interactive resources.
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Assessment for Progress: Regular assessments inform groupings and interventions. Children are monitored closely, with immediate support provided for those not meeting expected progress.
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Training and Fidelity: All staff at St.Finiain's have received phonics training in our scheme 'Flying Start'; ongoing CPD ensures fidelity to the scheme and quality, effective, consistent delivery.
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Integration into Wider Curriculum: Phonics skills are reinforced across reading, writing, and the wider curriculum, using decodable readers aligned with the scheme to enhance fluency.
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Parental Involvement: Parents are supported weekly home learning prompts, workshops and resources to understand phonics terminology and help their children at home.
Impact
- Early Reading Success: Children develop strong decoding and blending skills, enabling them to read fluently and confidently by the end of KS1.
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Accelerated Progress: Most children meet age-related expectations in phonics. Those who need support are identified early and given targeted interventions enabling them to keep up.
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Phonics Screening Check: Towards the end of Year 1, the national Phonics Screening Check assesess children's attainment in phonics. Any children who do not reach the threshold by this stage, receive additonal, tailored supported throughout Year 2.
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Reading for Pleasure: Children become enthusiastic readers who can access a wide range of texts independently, leading to improved vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of books.
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Preparedness for KS2: By the end of Year 2, children are secure in applying phonics in both reading and spelling, providing a solid foundation for Key Stage 2 literacy.
