Phonics
Phonics is taught at Plaistow Primary School following the RWI - Read Write Inc. Phonics programme. 
This is an inclusive phonics and literacy programme for all children learning to read and teaches them how to use synthetic phonics. Synthetic phonics is a way of teaching reading. Children will be taught two crucial concepts when they are learning to read using synthetic phonics:
- How sounds are represented by written letters. For example, they will be taught that the letter ‘m’ represents an 'mmmmmm' sound.
- How sounds can be blended together to make words. For example, they will be taught that the sounds of the letters ‘c-a-t’ blend together to make the word ‘cat’.
Children will be taught to read letters or groups of letters by saying the sound (or sounds) they represent. For example, they will be taught that the letter ‘l’ sounds like 'lllll' when we say it. Children will then start reading by blending the sounds together to make words. Another word for this kind of blending is synthesising.
At school, teachers and pupils talk about blending, but in phonics lessons also use phrases like 'sounding out' or 'Fred Talk'. All these terms refer to the same idea: synthesising sounds. To find out more about phonics and the RWI programme click here.
Phonics sessions are taught daily at Plaistow Primary School for pupils in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 in addition to whole class shared reading and English lessons to develop each individual pupils’ reading skills, understanding and knowledge.
Our phonic teaching aims to teach children to:
- apply the skill of blending phonemes in order to read words
- segment words into their constituent phonemes in order to spell words
- learn that blending and segmenting words are reversible processes
- read high frequency words that do not conform to regular phonic patterns
- read texts and words that are within their phonic capabilities as early as possible
- decode texts effortlessly so all their resources can be used to comprehend what they read
- spell effortlessly so that all their resources can be directed towards composing their writing
- comprehend the meaning of words and text
- use the skills they have learnt in their phonics teaching and apply them to their own reading and writing.
How can you support your child at home?
There are many ways in which you can support your child. Talking to them daily about what they have read and what they have learnt, asking them to repeat their reading and ‘improve’ their readers voice, modelling how to read a good story; adding in tension and suspense as you read.
RWI provides support for parents on it’s Facebook page: search for RWI phonics
RWI have many videos and activities on YouTube to support you reading with your child at home. Search: RWI Ruth Miskin Training
For further information about phonics at Plaistow Primary School click here or speak to your child’s teacher.
Phonics Sound Guide for Parents
Your child uses a sound mats like the one below in their reading and writing lessons. You can use this to support them with their learning at home:
