Phonics and Reading Schemes
Rhino Readers
Phonics
Phonics is taught daily in EYFS until Year 2 using twinkl phonics. This is a complete systematic, systematic phonics programme. Phonics strategies continue to be used across KS2 (especially for children requiring support).
Phonics and Reading Schemes
At Broad Town School we use the 'Twinkl Phonics' programme to support the teaching of reading and writing. After trialling several phonics schemes, we selected Twinkl because this SSP (Systematic Synthetic Phonics) programme best met the needs of our children and the structure and orgaisation of our school.
The Twinkl scheme and the Rhino Reader books include opportunities to rehearse phonics and sight words learned in the lessons. The books also cover both fiction and non-ficiton plus a range of text types.
Children in Reception, KS1 and some children in KS2 have a book linked to the phonics level they are working on. They also select a book of their choice to take home to read. We feel that this balance helps to develop children's interest and enjoyment of reading.
In KS2, chidlren have a reading book linked to their level of reading and they also have a book that they select from the class library.
Early Reading
The first books that children take home are usually ‘wordless’ books. This encourages children to talk about the books and make up their own stories. Chidlren are actively taught and supported to use phonics to support them in decoding words, sounding out each phoneme and blending them back together. The front pages of the Rhino Reader books, identify the sounds and tricky words that children are focusing on.
Supporting Phonics At Home
Each September, there is a meeting for new parents to explain how we teach phonics at Broad Town. During this meeting, parents will be given some resources to help them support their child at home. For example, sound mats and word mats. If you would like a copy of the sound mats or word mats to use at home, please ask your child's class teacher.
Parents of EYFS children are also invited to join a phonics session in the autumn to see the strategies discuussed in the meeting in action.