Phonics is the way we teach your child to  recognise and read sounds in words. It helps your child to learn to read quickly and skilfully and is an essential part of your child’s early education.

During the Spring Term we have begun teaching phonics using the scheme 'Little Wandle'. A letter has been sent out explaining this approach: 

As well as daily 20 minute phonics lessons the children have three 'reading practice' sessions each week

• In the reading sessions we aim to build fluency, expression, intonation (prosody) and comprehension. The children read the same 'matched-decodable' book as a group each session, and discuss it with an adult.
• We then send home fully decodable Phonics Book to read at home.  This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level based on most recent assessments. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading.
• We will also send home a Sharing Book. This is a book the children have chosen that interests them - they might not be able to read all the words, so help them, read it to them, talk about it, explain what any unfamiliar words mean, and build up a love of reading with them. 
• These two complementary  approaches will be hugely beneficial - decoding and building fluency on their own with the Phonics Book , and developing reading for pleasure with the Sharing Book - 5 minutes a day, little and often, or more if you have time.

At All Saints' Federation we teach spelling daily from Year 2 to Year 6, this builds systematically on the children's learning in phonics and and their understanding of decoding. We teach spelling through encoding sound-by-sound from left to right. This method is taught in conjunction with an understanding of word meaning, recognition and building of vocabulary using the Common Exception and High Frequency Word Lists which be found in our Home-School Planners.

At All Saints' Federation our approach to spelling is rooted in understanding and application of the spelling rules and an increase in rich vocabulary.  We want every child to be a good speller and to take a keen interest in the spelling and the meaning of words. Being a good speller boosts a child's confidence and enables them to communicate successfully.