Phonics is a system of teaching children to read and write by helping them to hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English Language.  Having a sound understanding of phonics will also help children to know which letters to use when they are writing words.  Phonics involves matching the sounds of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters.  It is a method of teaching reading and writing through the identification of different sounds and graphemes.

Launchpad

Launchpad for Literacy is an approach to literacy readiness for all children within the Early Years. It builds skills to work towards group listening, participation and learning. Launchpad targets specific language and vocabulary skills involved in a ‘Love of Reading’ and paves the way for reading comprehension, inference and knowledge building through the development of pre-phonological awareness.  Due to this, Launchpad is used as a pre-phonics programme in FS1 and an intervention programme to identify and close gaps in FS2.

Pearl Phonics

In EYFS and KS1, phonics, reading and writing are taught using Pearl Phonics, which is a DfE validated phonics programme developed by Carl Pattison.  Pearl Phonics provides a systematic and rigorous phonics teaching and practice with a rich vocabulary.  It teaches handwriting linked to the English Alphabetic Code and the Alphabet. It aims to build children's speaking and listening skills, as well as prepare children for learning to read by developing their phonic knowledge and skills.

How Do Pearl Phonics Sessions Work?

Children in EYFS and Year 1 receive daily lessons for up to 40 minutes. It is a whole-class age-related approach which promotes high expectations for the children to develop competency with the foundations of phonics and the basic code by the end of Reception and to master phonics for reading by the end of year 1.  Importance is placed on ongoing assessment using a simple, effective and accurate approach that supports planning and facilitates speedy targeted intervention (additional practice sessions) when required.

The teaching of phonics begins in EYFS.  Children learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down.  This is essential for reading however it is also an essential tool for spelling.  Children are taught a number of simple ways to remember the phonemes and graphemes that they encounter.

In Reception, children experience a taught daily phonics session five times a week as well as being immersed in phonics throughout other subjects. We teach 4-5 new phonemes (letter sounds) per week and have a focus on reading and writing it each day. Alongside this, we incorporate high frequency words (tricky words) in which we learn to read and recognise them. There is also time to consolidate learning and further embed skills and knowledge.

In Year 1, the children have a taught daily phonics lesson five days a week in a whole class approach. The Pearl Phonics programme provides daily progression and ensures children are able to build on prior learning each week. The children are introduced to a number of new graphemes alongside common exception words (tricky words) that they are encouraged to both read and write in a variety of different ways.

In KS2, children, who still require a phonics programme and decodable books, receive additional support that might consist of oral blending and fluency practice, GPC work and reading their current decodable book to the teacher.