Phonics
Phonics Leader: Miss Olivia Tosti
Intent
We aspire to support children at Cutteslowe Primary School to become confident, fluent and enthusiastic readers. We teach early reading through a phonics scheme called Read Write Inc (RWI). Like all phonics schemes, it teaches children the sounds in English, the letters that represent them, and how to form the letters when writing. This scheme includes reading books written using only the letters they have learnt at each level to match correctly to their phonetic ability.
Research has shown that the ability to decode is a crucial element in reading success. The goal of phonics is to teach children the relationship between sounds and the different spelling patterns which represent them. Children use phonics to learn how to decode words and blend the sounds together. Our aim is to provide high quality systematic teaching to ensure children’s success in becoming fluent readers.
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Implementation Plan for RWI Phonics Program Phonics Instruction Structure:
Daily phonics lessons: Students from Reception through Key Stage 1 will participate in 30-minute daily phonics lessons, using RWI’s structured, step-by-step approach. Any children in KS2 who didn’t pass phonics screening will also still have phonics lessons.
Grouping by ability: Students will be grouped based on phonics assessment data to ensure instruction is targeted at their specific needs, allowing for both challenge and support.
Regular assessment: Formative assessments will take place every 6 weeks to monitor progress and re-group children based on their phonics knowledge.
Staff Training and Development: Whole staff RWI training: All staff involved in phonics instruction, including teaching assistants, will receive comprehensive training from an RWI-trained lead or external provider.
Ongoing CPD and Coaching: The Phonics leader will team teach and support group leaders to ensure best practice is maintained and teachers are confident in delivering effective phonics lessons.
Curriculum Design: Progressive phonics curriculum: The RWI program will be delivered systematically, beginning with letter sounds (Set 1) and progressing through complex sounds (Set 2 and Set 3), with reading and writing components integrated into each lesson.
Reading aligned with phonics: Students will read RWI decodable texts that align with the phonics sounds they are learning, providing an immediate opportunity to practice blending and sound recognition.
Writing integration: Writing activities will be linked to phonics sounds and include spelling and sentence construction ensuring students apply their phonetic knowledge to writing tasks.
Intervention Strategies: Catch-up interventions: Targeted small-group interventions will be provided for students who need additional support, with extra phonics sessions throughout the week.
One-on-one tutoring: For children making slow progress, trained staff will deliver one-on-one phonics tutoring sessions to reinforce learning and boost confidence.
Parental involvement: Parents will be supported in helping their children at home through phonics workshops, resources, and guidance.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Phonics leader oversight: The school’s phonics leader will monitor the delivery of the RWI program, ensuring high fidelity to the approach and tracking student progress closely. Regular tracking of progress for struggling readers will ensure early identification and support, minimising the gap between the lowest and highest performers.
Impact: By consistently implementing the RWI phonics program, students at Cutteslowe will be able to: Read with increased fluency and show confidence in sounding out unfamiliar words. Apply their phonetic knowledge to writing, spelling accurately. Develop into lifelong readers who enjoy and understand a range of texts. Our success will be measured by the RWI online assessments and Year 1 phonics screening results. This structured approach will ensure that every child is given the support and opportunities to become a confident reader and writer, ready for the next stage of their education.
