English

Phonics

We are passionate about ensuring that all children become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers, and we believe that phonics provides the foundations for these skills. In order to support this aim we follow the Little Wandle: Letters and Sounds Revised phonics scheme.

The Little Wandle progression information can be downloaded below.

READING (including phonics)

In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, we follow the Little Wandle Phonics and Fluency Scheme. Lexia is also used in Years 1 and 2 to support and assess reading.

In Year 3, children continue with Little Wandle Fluency. Those who have completed the phonics programme move on to reading independently, with progress tracked using Accelerated Reader. Children still on phonics are assessed through Little Wandle.

In Year 4, pupils still completing the phonics programme continue with Little Wandle, while others begin FREDs Fluent in Five. Assessment continues through Accelerated Reader and Little Wandle, depending on the child’s stage.

In Years 5 and 6, children follow FREDs Fluent in Five (Whole Class Reading), with progress monitored through Accelerated Reader. Any pupils still requiring phonics support are assessed using Little Wandle.

We also provide targeted interventions including Little Wandle Keep-Up, Little Wandle Rapid Catch-Up, Phonological Awareness, Learning Village, and Lexia to ensure every child gets the support they need.

Each class visits our school library weekly, Cranleigh Library each half-term, and reads a text together every half-term. This exposes pupils to a wide range of authors, settings, themes, and historical periods. These sessions are all designed to inspire a love of reading.

Writing

We follow Talk for Writing to teach Writing throughout the school. 

Talk for Writing has an outstanding impact on schools and is based on the principles of how people learn. Children move from imitating texts through to innovating them and then apply knowledge learnt in the final independent application stage.

Typically, schools have found that children initially double their rate of progress and, where the approach has been applied systematically across a setting, many schools have moved from dire results to outstanding success. Schools already performing well have not only increased attainment, but also enjoyment and engagement.

handwriting

We use Letter-join throughout the school to teach handwriting. Documents attached below.

 

For more information, please contact the co-English Leads, Miss A Brockman (Writing), Miss L West and Miss S Khan (Phonics and Reading), on 01483 273286.

 

Whole School English Intent

Phonics - Reception and Year 1 Long-Term Progression Overview

Writing Long Term Plan - 2024-25

Whole School Progression in Skills - Speaking, Reading and Writing

Handwriting Scheme