Right from the beginning of Reception, we use Read Write Inc. Phonics which is a highly successful English programme created by Ruth Miskin. All Reading Teachers at St Patrick's have received training and support from Ruth Miskin Training, rated Outstanding by the Department for Education, to ensure we meet our aim for all children to become confident and enthusiastic readers.

The Read Write Inc. Phonics programme is carefully matched to the curriculum, giving every child the best chance of success.

Reception to Year 2 children are taught using Read Write Inc. Phonics as the main EYFS and KS1 early reading programme but it is also taught as an intervention for children in Years 3 and 4.

At St. Patrick’s we are developing and improving the way we teach phonics. We are using the ‘Read, Write Inc.’ phonics programme which has proven success in developing children’s reading ability.

HOW DO WE TEACH PHONICS AT ST PATRICKS?

 In every lesson, we follow the five principles of RWI Phonics:

1. PURPOSE  - every activity is shared with the children, so children know the ONE thing they should be thinking about.

2. Be PASSIONATE about teaching so the children are engaged emotionally.

3. Teach at an effective PACE so that we devote every moment to teaching and learning.

4. Every child PARTICIPATES throughout the lesson. Partner work is fundamental to learning.

5. PRAISE effort and progress - not ability

We prioritise learning through phonics in EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and KS1 (Key Stage 1) through discrete phonics sessions using Ruth Miskin Read Write Inc resources.  Through a multi-sensory approach, the pupils are provided with a picture and an action to help them learn each different sound. This is an effective and interactive way for young learners to recall phonemes and carries forward some of the learning that has taken place in our feeder nurseries. The Ruth Miskin ditties provide a picture and short phrase to act as a memory aid.

Our daily phonics lessons include a variety of games and resources to support our teaching of phonics. It aims to build pupils’ speaking and listening skills, as well as prepare pupils to learn to read, by developing their phonic knowledge and skills. It sets out a detailed programme for teaching phonic skills, with the aim of pupils becoming fluent readers by age seven. Children are given opportunities to apply these in context to reading and writing throughout the day. The school also draws on many online resources which engage the children with learning.

HOW CAN YOU HELP AT HOME?

You can help at home every week. Each week, children will have a ‘Read, Write, Inc’ reading book, a book bag book and additional reading practice via the Pupil Pathways on the Read Write Inc Phonics School Portal.

These will be changed in accordance to the lessons the children are doing, and it is encouraged they are read a number of times during the week at home to develop fluency and intonation as well as understanding.

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.

HOW WILL YOUR CHILD MAKE PROGRESS WITH THEIR READING?

Children will make progress based on their reading ability by building their sounds knowledge and developing their reading fluency. The groups below show how your child will progress through the scheme:

Read Write Inc Sounds and Storybooks Progression Grid

Assessment points take place each half term of the academic year. 

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.