Reading and Phonics
At St Mary Queen of Martyrs, we value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We know reading is key for academic success and also for wider learning enjoyment and mental wellbeing. With this in mind, we aim to emphasise the importance of books and literature across our school community to enable the children to become confident, happy and enthusiastic readers.
Phonics - Learning to read
In Foundation Stage and KS1, our children take part in daily phonics sessions utilising the Read, Write Inc (RWI) systematic structured phonics programme. It is our aim that SMQ children meet or exceed the expected standard in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check and the National Curriculum expectations for word reading through decoding by the end of KS1. Those children needing extra support to keep-up or catch-up will access RWI One to One Tutoring.
- Progress in phonics is continually reviewed through daily informal and half termly formal phonic assessments and evidence from their reading, with the aim of year 2 children reaching the expected levels of the RWI programme.
- Children are regrouped each half term based on results and those needing additional support will receive this during afternoon tutoring groups.
To know more about Set 1, Set 2 and Set 3 sounds and words click on the links:
- Set 1: Set 1 Mini Flashcards, Green Words Set 1
- Set 2: Set 2 Mini Flashcards, Set 2 Green Words
- Set 3: Set 3 Mini Flashcards, Set 3 Green Words
- Red word list
Oxford Owl website has a section for Reading RWI books, please click on the link below.
Reading Lessons
Whole class Guided Reading lessons run through KS1 (3 times per week) and KS2 (daily). In these lessons the children are exposed to a range of different quality texts including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, song lyrics, and performance scripts. For an effective approach to teaching reading, all lessons cover the following three principles:
- Fluency practice – Fluency Read
- Reading breadth – Extended Read
- Text discussions – Close Read
- All pupils are exposed to a wider vocabulary that can be used orally and allows greater understanding of the world around them. New vocab is always introduced with the support of visuals, sounds and gesture.
- Fluency lessons facilitate the development of pronunciation, which in turn, aids comprehension as children attach unfamiliar words to existing words
within their vocabulary. In all lessons, teachers model reading sections of text with appropriate fluency, followed by lots of opportunity for children to practice. Focus is on accuracy, pace, intonation, stress and rhythm.
- Extended lessons involves the prolonged engagement with a longer text or extract and therefore focuses on the development of fluency, word knowledge, background knowledge and text knowledge through exposure to text.
- Close reading is about teaching children to analyse a text for specific themes, patterns and vocabulary choices. In these sessions there will be a planned focus for analysis. For example, this may be analysing the use of metaphor or other language device used by the author in the text. It could also involve exploring the creative use of punctuation or how a given effect is created and developed throughout a paragraph.
Additional Reading opportunities
All children from Nursery to Year 6 take a reading for pleasure book home to read and/or share. Additionally, children doing RWI will take home books linked to their phonics lessons, and children working just beyond the phonics scheme chose a reading book from a banded book selection in our KS2 Reading Nook. We encourage family to read these books with their child daily and make comments in the reading record.
Each classroom has a reading area filled with books from the Schools Library Service. The children can access these books to read throughout the day, including when they first arrive in the morning.
‘Stay and Read’
- Reception parents have the opportunity to watch a phonics lesson and then stay to read with their child.
- KS1 welcomes parents and carers to share a range of story books with their child in their own classroom.
Home support for reading is planned in at various points throughout the year, including Meet the Teacher, Parent Consultations and a Phonics Information Evening.
Here are some videos, these will help you support your child with their Read Write Inc. Phonics.
