All children in Reception and key stage 1 will be taught a discrete phonics session on a daily basis as well as phonics integrated into their literacy sessions. Some phonics activities will also be taught through guided reading sessions.

The children’s understanding and knowledge of the graphemes/letters taught will be monitored and reviewed regularly.

During the summer term in Year 1, children nationwide are tested on their phonic knowledge. This test helps us to identify children who have gaps in their phonic knowledge and may need support in Year 2 to develop reading and writing skills.

The test is very low-key and the children are not aware that they are being tested. Parents are informed as to whether their child has achieved the national expectation within the child’s end-of-year report. Additional individual and group tuition in phonics will be given to those children who find reading difficult.