Reading and Phonics
At Higher Lane, English is at the heart of our curriculum; it is the foundation on which every subject is built. We value reading and writing as key life skills and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers and writers, ensuring children read fluently and widely when they leave. The reading and writing journey begins in the Foundation Stage, where a multitude of learning activities are available for children to experience books, mark making and phonics, igniting a passion for these skills at an early age. As the children’s journey continues into Key Stage One, the teaching of phonics continues and there is a greater expectation that this knowledge will also be applied to their written work. It is our intention to immerse pupils in the wonders of quality texts to instil a love for reading, a passion for discovery and a confidence to explore their imagination, which is then transferred to their writing. We believe reading is key for academic success and so we ensure that there is a holistic approach to the teaching of reading. In writing, we want our children to be able to write with grammatical accuracy and be able to apply spelling patterns correctly using a neat handwriting style. We aim to expose our children to a wide range of vocabulary so that they can decipher unfamiliar words and then use them when speaking and writing both informally and formally.
At Higher Lane, we use Read Write Inc. (RWI) to give children the best possible start in learning to read and write. RWI is a systematic phonics programme that teaches children to recognise sounds, blend them into words, and develop fluency and comprehension skills. Children begin their RWI journey in the summer term of Nursery and continue through the programme until they have completed it. Those who have not met end of Key Stage 1 expectations continue phonics teaching into Years 3 and 4, ensuring every child has the support they need to become confident, independent readers and writers. Alongside reading, pupils also learn accurate spelling, handwriting, and sentence-building, helping them to develop a love of reading and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Intent
Our aim is to ensure that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader who can access and enjoy a wide range of texts. We want children to develop a secure understanding of phonics, enabling them to read for pleasure, succeed across the curriculum, and build the literacy skills needed for life.
Implementation
Children are taught daily phonics through the RWI programme, beginning in the summer term of Nursery. Lessons are fast-paced, engaging, and carefully structured to match children’s reading stages. Children are grouped according to their progress and regularly assessed to ensure they are receiving teaching at the right level. Those who need additional support receive targeted intervention, with phonics continuing into Years 3 and 4 for pupils who have not yet met end of Key Stage 1 expectations.
Impact
By following the RWI programme, our children develop the phonics knowledge, reading fluency, and comprehension skills needed to become confident readers and writers. Most children complete the programme by the end of Key Stage 1, and those who need longer are supported to make secure progress. Our pupils leave the scheme ready to access a wide range of texts, apply their literacy skills across the curriculum, and enjoy reading as a life-long habit.
Reading:
Once children have completed the Read, Write Inc. phonics programme, they then begin our reading journey, which we call enabling reading. Children working at the expected level or above work at their current year group level in sessions called ‘Comprehension Crushers’. They read texts designed for their reading age and staff activate prior knowledge, use echo reading, a timed read and focus on vocabulary to continue to build fluency and comprehension. Content domains are taught explicitly, and children learn to do this from modelled, shared and paired examples before applying their skills independently. Children, who are not working at age related expectations, are in focused small groups to close gaps rapidly in either phonics knowledge or fluency. They are assessed to check impact regularly and groups are fluid.
Independent Reading:
Accelerated Reader (AR) is a programme that helps children develop a love of reading while also improving their reading skills. After finishing a book, children take a short online quiz to check their understanding. The quiz results show teachers (and parents) how well the child has understood the story, and whether the book was the right level of challenge for them.
The programme encourages regular reading, helps children set personal goals, and motivates them by giving immediate feedback. Teachers use the results to guide children toward books that are both enjoyable and suited to their reading level, so they can make steady progress and build confidence as readers.