Phonics

SoundsWrite 

At Freshford we teach Phonics through the scheme, SoundsWrite.  This is a well-structured, systematic synthetic phonics scheme,  validated by the DfE.  It is introduced in the first term of Reception and follows a cumulative sequence through Year 1 and Year 2.       

Early reading and writing  

A key feature of SoundsWrite is that learning to write words and sentences is taught simultaneously with reading those words.  Children are introduced to individual sounds in the context of phonetically decodable CVC (consonant vowel consonant) words, eg. sat, tin.  They learn to read the word and then to “say the sounds and write the word.”  Because of this approach, their confidence in writing is high from the very start of the reading and writing process.  The key skills of blending, segmenting and phoneme manipulation are taught and practised in every phonics lesson.   Correct letter formation is taught simultaneously. 

Children are taught Phonics in separate year groups; additional support outside these lessons is provided as needed.  The format of the lessons is well structured and familiar to the children so that they can focus their attention on the new learning being presented. Children are highly engaged and enjoy Phonics. 

In the autumn term, we hold evening presentations for parents in Reception and in Years 1 and 2, to provide the necessary knowledge and tools to support early reading and writing at home.  The SoundsWrite website offers additional online training specifically for parents.  The SoundsWrite app for ipads can be purchased for home use to support additional phonics practice. 

The teachers from Reception to Year 2 are skilled in using SoundsWrite to teach early reading and writing; all have attended the 4-day SoundsWrite training and have been teaching phonics via Soundswrite since 2017.  Our Year 3 teacher is also SoundsWrite trained and can support children as they transition to KS2, using the same language and structures that they are used to.  In Years 4, 5 and 6, the concepts taught earlier are solidified and extended during the teaching of spelling drawn from the statutory spelling content.  The same vocabulary and familiar resource tools are used at age appropriate levels throughout the school.   

Useful resources:

Typical Phonics Progression YR to Y2

Spelling at Key Stage 2 

In Key Stage 2, we adapt the Essential Spelling scheme.  As with Sounds Write, it is systematic and built on understanding and mastery.  We teach children to become confident, independent spellers by focusing on understanding how the spelling system works rather than memorising lists. Learning is organised through developmental pathways, allowing targeted teaching based on learners’ needs. Children explore spelling patterns and alternative graphemes, investigate word structures, and develop strong knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and root words. Lessons encourage discussion and pattern spotting, with a clear emphasis on applying spelling in real writing. Through regular practice and responsive assessment, the skills to analyse, check and improve their own spelling is built in small steps.  Above all, we want to develop a love of words and a mastery of spelling patterns developed on roots of understanding.