Read Write Inc Phonics

Learning to read is the most important thing your child will learn at our school. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possibly can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible.

We want your child to love reading – and to want to read for themselves. This is why we put our efforts into making sure they develop a love of books as well as simply learning to read.

We have introduced a new phonics programme for our Reception and Key Stage 1 children and those children in Key Stage 2 who require extra support to be secure with their phonics and read fluently. The children have been split into groups and every morning they work on the reading and writing skills along with Fred- ask your child to explain who Fred is!

Please read the following information to explain the Read Write Inc programme in more detail:

What is RWI phonics?

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonics based programme which helps children learn to read whilst also developing a wide range of vocabulary and encouraging a love of stories.

Who is Read Write Inc. for?

The Read Write Inc. programme is for primary school children learning to read. Children will begin the programme in Year R and will remain on the programme until they are reading at expected year 2 level. Our aim is for most children to be off the scheme by the end of Year 2, however some children will remain on the scheme in Years 3 and 4.

How will it work?

Reception

Children will be taught a sound a day and will be assessed regularly by their class teachers and the Read Write Inc leader. When they have reached an appropriate level they will be grouped according to their reading level, and will be taught for up to an hour a day (by the end of the year), when they will start reading and writing alongside learning the new sounds.

Years 1 – 2

All children will be assessed regularly by the Read Write Inc Leader. The children will complete reading and writing activities for an hour each day, grouped according to their reading level. Children will be grouped according to their stage not their age, they will be taught by class teachers or teaching assistants. We are carefully following social distancing guidelines in line with COVID19 risk assessments, to ensure the children are accessing their sessions safely.

What does the RWI teaching process look like?

We start by teaching phonics to the children in the Reception class. This means that they learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down. This is essential for reading, but it also helps children learn to spell well. We teach the children simple ways of remembering these sounds and letters. Ask them to show you what these are.

The children also practise reading (and spelling) what we call ‘tricky words’, such as ‘once,’ ‘have,’ ‘said’ and ‘where’.

The children practise their reading with books that match the phonics and the ‘tricky words’ they know. They start thinking that they can read and this does wonders for their confidence.

The teachers read to the children, too, so the children get to know all sorts of stories, poetry and information books. They learn many more words this way and it also helps their writing.

Why does it work?

• This systematic and lively programme is organised by an in-school reading leader
• All staff (teachers and assistants) are trained together by one of the RWI trainers who has taught and managed the programme (no cascade training is used)
• The children read and write for an hour each day, grouped according to their reading level. (30 minute sessions for Reception children.)
• Children do not struggle because the work is too difficult or get bored because the work is too easy.

How will I know how well my child is doing?

We will always let you know how well your child is doing. We use various ways to find out how the children are getting on in reading. We use the information to decide what reading group they should be in. Your child will work with children who are at the same reading level as him or her. Children will move to a different group if they are making faster progress than the others. Your child will have one-to-one support if we think he or she needs some extra help to keep up.

We also use a reading test so that we can make sure that all our children are at the level that they should be for their age compared to all the children across the country.

In the summer term, the government asks us to do a phonics check of all the Year 1 children. That gives us extra information about their progress. We will talk to you about how well your child has done, and especially if we have any worries at all.

How long will it take to learn to read well?

By the end of Year 2, your child should be able to read aloud books that are at the right level for his or her age. In Year 3 we concentrate more on helping children to understand what they are reading, although this work begins very early on. This happens when the teacher reads to the children and also when the children read their own story book.

How can I help my child at home?

• You will be invited to an online meeting soon so that we can explain how we teach reading. Please come and support your child. We would very much like you to know how to help.
• Your child will bring different sorts of books home from school after half term. It helps if you know whether this is a book that your child can read on their own or whether this is a book that you should read to them. The teacher will have explained which is which. Please trust your child’s teacher to choose the book(s) that will help your child the most.
• Help your child to sound out the letters in words and then to ‘push’ the sounds together to make a whole word. Try not to refer to the letters by their names. Help your child to focus on the sounds.
• Sometimes your child might bring home a picture book that they know well. Please don’t say, ‘This is too easy.’ Instead, encourage your child to tell you the story out loud; ask them questions about things that happen or what they think about some of the characters in the story.

We know parents and carers are very busy people. But if you can find time to read to your child as much as possible, it helps him or her to learn about books and stories. They also learn new words and what they mean. Show that you are interested in reading yourself and talk about reading as a family.