What is phonics?
Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to:
- recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
- identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – such as ‘sh’ or ‘oo’; and
- blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
Children can then use this knowledge to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read.
Phonics & Reading in Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1 we use the Department for Education ‘Letters and Sounds’ phonics programme. For more information please see the Department for Education site.
In Key Stage 1 we use the ‘Oxford Reading Tree programme’ supported by ‘Big Cat’ and ‘Rigby Star’ reading schemes to support and develop children’s reading skills.
