Here at Eastwood Village, we are committed to teaching children how to read, and enjoy reading, from an early age (Foundation or as soon as possible) through systematic synthetic phonics using Ruth Miskin’s Read, Write, Inc programme.
Read Write Inc is a Literacy program for children learning to read. Children learn the 44 common sounds in English language in a sequence through 3 sets of sounds that enables them to learn how to blend, read and spell. All staff that deliver the RWI programme have been trained; which has given them skills, knowledge and confidence to plan, deliver and assess phonics to a high standard. Staff are very clear on progress expectations and which sounds children are expected to know by each half term. They teach the program with fidelity ensuring that all children make progress from their entry points using the Read right Inc programme and tools.
Across our school, the children who access RWI are assessed formally each half term by the reading lead and teachers. These children are then placed in specific focus groups which means children’s individual needs are being met along side children of the same ability. Robust assessments ensure that children are reading the correct book that carefully matches their growing phonological knowledge and awareness. Equally, this ensures children are issued with the correct home reading book for them to enjoy at home allowing them to consolidate their learning, build fluency and gain confidence. Thus fostering the love of reading
At Eastwood Village, we find it extremely important that all children should make progress in reading. Right from the start, whether that is starting in Foundation Stage or starting our school at different points of the school year, children are assessed using the RWI program. This enables us to not only group children into ability groups so they are accessing the right support, but we can identify children who need extra 1:1 interventions and provide teachers with the correct information to support the children.
As mentioned, alongside our Phonic lessons, we read decodable books that match our programme and follow the progress that children are making. These books enhance fluency as they are re-read throughout the week.
To further build skills, we also have daily individual reading practice with book bag books that are closely matched to our RWI scheme. These are read in school with teachers, teaching assistants, volunteers and reading ambassadors. In addition, these books are sent home daily by the reading teachers and home reading is encouraged as often as possible to promote the importance of reading, progress and enjoyment.
At Eastwood Village, our staff are excellent at teaching our Phonics program.
As a school, we have yearly whole group training with a RWI provider or our very own Reading lead. We work closely with the local English Hub which supports our reading lead and provides the skills that they need to provide effective training, practice sessions and coaching as often as the teachers need that. This enhances teaching skills and expertise more and more.
Teaching staff and the Reading leader have discussions about supporting pupils further and where we can enhance progress through lessons and interventions. In our school, not only are KS1 expert phonic teachers, phonics is reflected all the way to Upper KS2 with highly trained support staff and Phonic tools accessible around the classroom. Lower KS2 still kick- start their reading lessons with a quick sound recap and fluency practice to further imbed those early reading skills.
To underpin the natural curiosity of story-telling and love of reading, we promote aspects of reading right from the beginning of September. As an addition to our phonic lessons, we provide a wealth of rich reading skills and opportunities. These include; additional ‘fred talk’ (oral sound blending) sessions to help with those decoding and blending skills, environmental walks to help distinguish sounds and instrumental and body sounds to develop awareness of rhyme and alliteration. The learning environment across the EYFS indoor and out, create rich learning experiences that provide ample opportunities to embed sound recognition further. These are child and adult led.
In foundation, we install the love of reading by reading high quality texts just like KS1 and KS2. These texts may include a broad range of vocabulary, female role models, aspirational career opportunities and much more. Alongside our texts, we provide opportunities for children to retell stories during provision, use story language and sequence to develop their own imagination and own ideas of story-telling.