Phonics at Harmans Water
At Harmans Water, we teach early reading through the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, a systematic synthetic phonics approach that is delivered with consistency and fidelity. RWI teaches children to recognise the sounds that letters make and how to blend these sounds to read words accurately and fluently. Daily phonics lessons ensure that children build secure foundations in decoding, comprehension and reading for pleasure.
Phonics teaching begins in Nursery, where children develop the oral language, listening and sound discrimination skills that underpin successful reading. Learning is carefully planned through engaging, play-based activities that prepare children for formal phonics instruction.
Formal phonics teaching starts as soon as children enter Reception. Children are taught to read and spell words by blending and segmenting sounds, and to apply these skills when reading fully decodable books that are closely matched to their phonics knowledge.
All children in Reception and Key Stage 1 receive daily phonics lessons and are grouped according to their assessed needs. Progress in closely monitored, and children who need additional support receive timely intervention to ensure they keep up, not catch up. Once children can read fluently, they move on to daily reading sessions focused on high-quality texts to develop comprehensions and a love of reading.
Children in Key Stage 2 who require further phonics support continue on the Read Write Inc. programme until they have secured the necessary reading skills. Fresh Start, an age-appropriate Read Write Inc. intervention, is used to support older pupils in developing reading accuracy, fluency and confidence.
How we assess Reading
At Harmans Water, reading is assessed regularly to ensure all children make strong and sustained progress. In Read Write Inc. Phonics, children are assessed frequently on their phonics knowledge and their ability to read sounds, words and sentences accurately. These assessments are used to group children appropriately and to ensure that teaching is closely matched to their needs.
Children read fully decodable books that are carefully matched to their current phonics stage. Progress is monitored through ongoing assessment during lessons, and half termly phonics assessments.
Any child who is at risk of falling behind receives timely and targeted intervention, delivered with the aim that children keep up, not catch up. As children move beyond phonics, reading is assessed through regular reading practice sessions, comprehension activities and teacher assessment to ensure continued development in fluency, understanding and enjoyment of reading.
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check
In Year 1, children take part in the Phonics Screening Check, a short, statutory assessment designed to confirm that children have learned phonics to an appropriate standard. The check assesses children’s ability to decode words using the sounds they have been taught, including both real and “nonsense” words.
At Harmans Water, we prepare children for the check through daily, systematic phonics lessons and regular practice in applying their reading skills. Results help us identify any children who need extra support, ensuring that all pupils continue to develop fluency, accuracy and confidence in reading as they move through Key Stage 2.