What are we aiming for?
At Forsbrook CE Primary, we want every child to learn to read quickly and well, so that they can read to learn across the whole curriculum and choose to read for pleasure. Being able to read unlocks every subject and gives children independence as learners. Reflecting our Christian distinctiveness, we want every child, whatever their starting point or need, to flourish as a confident, fluent and enthusiastic reader.
We aim to develop pupils who:
- develop a love of books, stories, rhymes and songs from an early age
- engage regularly with a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry
- build strong foundations in phonics so they can decode words quickly and accurately
- read with increasing fluency, expression and understanding
- develop a rich vocabulary through talk, stories and books
- read regularly at home and school, supported by a strong reading culture
- listen to and enjoy stories read by a variety of readers, including teachers, peers and family members
How do we achieve this?
Phonics is taught daily from the second week of Reception using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, a systematic synthetic phonics programme validated by the Department for Education. Our decodable reading books are from the Collins Big Cat scheme, which is matched to the Little Wandle programme.
All staff who teach reading are trained in Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised and use only Little Wandle resources. Miss Adams, our Early Reading Lead, monitors teaching and checks consistency across the school so every child receives the same high-quality teaching.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds
Click the play button to learn more about Little Wandle Letters and Sounds:
Our reading journey:
Reception
Learning to decode
Daily phonics from the second week of term. Children take home a decodable book and a sharing book.
Year 1
Building fluency
Daily phonics and small-group reading practice continue. Children take the phonics screening check in June.
Year 2
Securing phonics
A six-week Phase 5 review for every child. Children secure in phonics start Accelerated Reader; others have Phase 5 intervention or Rapid Catch-up.
Key Stage 2
Reading to learn
Accelerated Reader continues to build fluent, independent readers. Rapid Catch-up continues for any child still learning to decode.
Our phonics and reading lessons:
Daily phonics lessons
- Lessons follow the Little Wandle progression, so every class teaches the same sounds in the same order.
- New sounds are revisited and applied throughout the day.
- Teachers check learning in every lesson and spot any child who needs extra practice that day.
- Children who need it have daily Keep-up support from a trained adult, using the same approach as the main lesson.
Reading practice sessions
- Sessions take place three times a week in small groups of about six children, led by a trained adult.
- Each session has a clear focus: decoding, reading with expression (prosody) and comprehension.
- Children read Collins Big Cat books matched to the sounds they know securely, so they read with success.
- Books are matched using the Little Wandle assessments every six weeks.
Key features of our approach:
Developing fluency
- Echo and choral reading: children read aloud after and alongside an adult to hear and copy fluent reading.
- Modelled reading: adults read aloud fluently across the curriculum, not just in English lessons.
- Repeated reading: children reread the same text to build speed, accuracy and expression.
- Reading aloud: pupils have regular opportunities to read aloud to adults and to each other.
- Accelerated Reader: from Year 2, children who are secure in phonics and beginning to read more fluently and independently move on to Accelerated Reader, which continues through Key Stage 2. They choose books pitched within their Zone of Proximal
- Development: challenging enough to stretch them, but not so hard that they lose understanding or enjoyment.
Reading for pleasure
Story times take place throughout the day, immersing children in a rich variety of texts and new vocabulary.
Our enrichment events, listed below, bring families, books and stories together throughout the year.
Reading at home
Children take home a decodable book they can read fluently and a sharing book for an adult to read with them.
We ask children to read at least four times a week, working towards our Bronze, Silver and Gold reading awards.
Keep up, not catch up
Children in Year 2 and above who still need help with phonics follow the Little Wandle Rapid Catch-up programme in short daily sessions.
For children in Key Stage 2 still struggling to decode, our SENCO works with the class teacher to review each case and plan the next steps.
How do we know children are keeping up?
Every day
Teachers check learning in each phonics lesson to spot any child who needs extra practice that day.
Every six weeks
Children in Reception and Year 1 complete the Little Wandle assessments. These show which sounds and words each child knows securely, identify gaps to teach, and match each child to the right reading book.
School tracking
Results are recorded on our school tracking system. Leaders review this to check that all groups of children are making progress, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND.
Phonics screening check
All children take the statutory check in June of Year 1. Any child who does not meet the standard receives targeted support and retakes the check at the end of Year 2.
What difference is this making to our pupils?
- Strong phonics outcomes: the proportion of our Year 1 pupils meeting the expected standard in the phonics screening check is above both the national and Staffordshire local authority averages. Our full results are on our Attainment page.
- Children keep up: a high proportion of pupils keep up with the Little Wandle programme, and those who need extra help are quickly identified and supported.
- Fluent, confident readers: regular practice at school and at home helps children become fluent readers, ready to access learning in every subject.
- A love of reading: children talk enthusiastically about books, and families tell us their children share stories at home and are proud to work towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold reading awards.
Enrichment
- Bedtime Stories: an after-school reading event for Nursery and Reception children and their families
- World Book Day: activities across the school celebrating books and authors
- Mystery Readers: parents are invited into school to read a book of their choice to the children
- Reading buddies: older pupils read with younger pupils, sharing stories and modelling fluent, expressive reading
- Book Fair: held twice a year, giving families the chance to purchase new books
Rotary Books: children choose a book from the Rotary trolley to take home and read
Nursery Rhymes
Listening to, understanding and singing nursery rhymes is an important part of a young child’s development. It builds listening, focus and attention, and develops the spoken language that is vital to reading success. You can also watch animated versions on BBC Teach: Nursery Rhymes and Songs A to Z.
Documents
Reception
Year 1
Reading at home
Phonics programme
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