Early Reading/Phonics
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go.
- Dr. Seuss
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go.
- Dr. Seuss
At Clapgate, we are passionate about nurturing a love of reading in children from an early age. We believe that early reading is foundational, as learning to read is the most important skill your child will acquire during their time with us. Reading unlocks all other learning, so we dedicate ourselves to ensuring every child becomes a confident and enthusiastic reader as quickly as possible. Our goal is not only to teach children how to read but also to inspire them to love books and develop a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure.
As part of our Early Years curriculum, we have thoughtfully created a list of key stories and poems that our children will know and cherish by the time they leave Reception. Each half term, children are introduced to a carefully chosen selection of high-quality picture books that they revisit throughout the term. This repetition helps them develop a deeper understanding of story structures, characters, vocabulary, and themes while fostering a genuine love for children’s literature.
In addition to stories, we have planned a progression of nursery rhymes and songs for each year group. Please refer to the tables below for more details.
During their time in EYFS, children will also explore our incredible library, filled with a wide variety of books to spark their curiosity and imagination. To further support their development, we use Helicopter Stories, an engaging approach that encourages children to become storytellers and develop their oracy skills.
By combining exposure to rich literature with creative storytelling, we aim to create confident readers and imaginative thinkers.
As a school we have implemented a phonics and reading program called Read, Write, Inc.
Our early reading journey begins in Nursery, where children share daily stories with adults and enjoy access to a wide variety of books in our welcoming and cosy reading area. In Nursery, we aim to foster a love of reading and inspire a genuine motivation to explore books. However, before children can learn to read, they need to develop essential pre-reading skills. These foundational skills include communication and language development, an understanding that print carries meaning, and phonological awareness.
Children in Nursery participate in one to two adult-directed phonics sessions each week. These sessions focus on developing phonological awareness by helping children discriminate between sounds in their environment. By enhancing their listening skills, children learn to compare and identify different sounds, an essential step toward recognising letter sounds when they begin to read. To achieve this, we engage in activities like listening walks, where children identify sounds in their surroundings and use everyday objects and recorded sounds to explore a variety of noises. Instruments are also introduced, and we incorporate body percussion, such as clapping, tapping knees, and stamping feet, often through fun, rhythmic songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” These activities help children develop an awareness of sound and rhythm.
We also explore rhythm and rhyme by reading rhyming stories and breaking words into syllables. These skills are not confined to adult-led sessions but integrated into the children’s play.
Once children enter Reception, they begin their Read Write Inc journey, which tends to run until the Easter of Year 2. RWI is a structured and systematic approach that helps children learn to decode words, develop reading fluency and build comprehension skills. Children are taught in small ability-based groups, ensuring that each child receives targeted support to match their needs. The program includes daily phonics lessons where children learn new sounds and practice blending them to read words. They also read storybooks that align with their phonics knowledge, helping them develop confidence and accuracy. At the end of each half-term, children are reassessed and regrouped based on their progress, allowing us to provide the right level of challenge and support for every learner.
In the Foundation Stage, we begin teaching phonics, which continues into Key Stage 1. Through phonics, children learn to identify and ‘read’ the sounds in words and understand how those sounds are represented in writing. This foundational skill is essential for reading fluency and also supports accurate spelling. We teach children simple, memorable rhymes to recognise these sounds and letters to make learning engaging and effective.
Supporting your child’s phonics learning at home can make a big difference. Here are some tips:
By practicing these strategies and supporting your child’s phonics journey, you’ll help them build confidence and mastery in both reading and spelling.
We understand that parents and carers lead busy lives, but finding time to read with your child as often as possible can make a big difference. Reading together helps your child learn about books and stories, expands their vocabulary, and deepens their understanding of language. It also creates a special bonding experience that fosters a lifelong love of reading. Show your child that reading is important by sharing your own interest in books and making it a family activity. This is why, each week, your child will choose a library book to take home and enjoy with their families. Talk about the stories you read together, ask open-ended questions, and encourage your child to share their thoughts.
Once your child starts reading books at school, they will bring home a Read Write Inc. book bag book that matches their phonics abilities. This will help them practice and reinforce the skills they are learning in class. Additionally, you will receive a login for Oxford Owl, where you can access the storybooks your child has been reading in school. This provides an opportunity to revisit familiar stories and build reading fluency.
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Test is a short, simple assessment designed to check how well children have learned to decode words using phonics. It consists of 40 words and non-words (“nonsense” or “alien” words) that children read aloud to their teacher. To ensure children are well-prepared, we conduct a mock test every half term and share the results with parents and carers, keeping you informed of your child’s progress. Before any half-term breaks or holidays, we will also provide additional games and resources to help your child practice their phonics skills at home in a fun and engaging way.
Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW
Headteacher: Miss Taylor
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Procter
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin,
Miss Johnson,
Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache
Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org
