Phonics
Changes to How we Teach Reading at Nutgrove in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
We have recently purchased a new reading scheme called Little Wandle Letters and Sounds to bring our reading approaches/schemes in line with the new guidance about how to teach children to read. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds is a systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) programme.
There are two types of reading book that your child will bring home:
- A reading practice book –Collins Big Cat Books. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently.
- A book for you to read and enjoy with your child. Your child is not expected to read this book as it is not fully decodable and will not match their exact phonics level. This book is for you to read and enjoy together.
The Reading Practice Book: Collins Big Cat Books
This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. 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. Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together.
The Reading for Pleasure Book:
In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together. Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this. Read it to them, discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters and explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!
Support for Parents/Carers
Parent/Carer Support can be found via this link: https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
This link can be copied and pasted into your browser if you have difficulty opening the website from the direct link above. Here, if you scroll down, you will find three subheadings: Support for Phonics, How we Teach and Support for Reading.
Support for Phonics
In this section, there are three videos that show you how to pronounce the sounds. Notice how the children don’t add an ‘uh’ sound at the end, so they say: ‘t’ not ‘tuh’. The downloadable information on this page can also be used to help your child remember how to write their letters and say their sounds.
How we Teach
In this section, there are some useful videos which demonstrate how specific aspects of phonics and reading are taught at school.
Support for Reading
This section explains how you can have a huge impact on your child’s reading journey by continuing their practice at home.
Find our full Reception and Year 1 teaching programme overview here to see what your child will learn and when.
Changes to How we Teach Reading at Nutgrove in Year 2
If your child ends Year 1 reading the Big Cat books at Phase 5 Level or below, they will continue reading the Big Cat books, which are fully decodable, in Year 2. When they are ready to move on from Phase 5 books, Oxford Reading Tree books will be added to the choice of readers and matched at the appropriate reading level. The children will be given a reading book in school and they will now read this book at home as well. Please make sure either you or your child completes their reading record each time they read.