Early Reading and Phonics at Wittersham

Intent:

At Wittersham Church of England Primary School, we aim to ensure that all children become confident, fluent readers who develop a lifelong love of reading. We have created a text-rich environment where books are celebrated, valued and, most importantly, enjoyed. Early reading is at the heart of our curriculum, and we believe that teaching phonics well is a crucial step in ensuring all children become successful readers.

We teach phonics and early reading in five phases using the validated Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. This carefully sequenced programme ensures children learn to read through consistent, high-quality teaching.

We are confident that:

• Grapheme–phoneme correspondences are introduced in a clear, progressive sequence

• Children are quickly introduced to single consonants and vowels, enabling them to read and spell simple CVC words from the start

• Blending is taught both orally and through segmenting and sounding out phonemes to decode unfamiliar words

• Children are taught to spell by segmenting words and selecting appropriate graphemes

Implementation:

In Reception and Year One, children follow the Little Wandle progression through daily phonics sessions. By the end of Reception, children will have been taught up to Phase 4, and by the end of Year One, they will have completed Phase 5.

From Term 2 in Reception and Term 1 in Year One, children also take part in small group reading practice sessions three times per week. These sessions focus on fluency, prosody (reading with expression) and comprehension.

Texts used are fully decodable and matched to the children’s current phonics knowledge. This approach supports reading success and ensures children build confidence, accuracy and understanding.

Phonics learning is closely linked to home reading. Children take home books that are matched to the phonics phase they are currently working within, ensuring that what is practised at home reinforces the learning in school.

Children in Year One complete the statutory Phonics Screening Check in the summer term. If a child does not meet the expected standard, targeted intervention is implemented immediately to ensure they continue to progress towards age-related expectations.

Impact:

Phonics and reading outcomes are regularly assessed using the Little Wandle assessment tools. Formative assessment takes place daily, and children are supported through planned review sessions. Summative assessments at the end of each unit help teachers identify any gaps in learning and adjust teaching accordingly. Children who are not yet meeting age-related expectations receive targeted 'Keep Up' or 'Catch Up' interventions, ensuring that no child is left behind.

Ofsted Feedback (June 2025):

Our most recent Ofsted inspection highlighted that:

Reading is highly prioritised in the school. Children start to learn phonics as soon as they start in Reception. Through high-quality, regular phonics and reading routines, pupils quickly become accurate and fluent readers.

Inspectors recognised that our carefully selected book choices and commitment to early reading ensure that children develop both the skills and the joy of reading from the earliest stages of their education.

To support your child at home, visit the Little Wandle parent resources:
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/

If you would like more information about how phonics is taught at Wittersham or would like help supporting your child’s reading, please speak with your child’s class teacher or contact the school office.