Newlands Primary School

Early Reading

Curriculum - We follow the Ruth Miskin READ WRITE INC programme to teach our phonics throughout Early Years and KS1. We follow the programme with fidelity.

In Nursery, children start with Phase 1 of Letters and sounds. They then move onto RWI in the term before they move to Reception or sooner if they are ready, Reception use the ‘Make a strong start to Reception.’ They start by whole class teaching for four weeks before being assessed and grouped.

RWI is taught daily in Reception and KS1. In the afternoons there is an addition speed sounds session. Every group has a speed sounds session – Set 1 has 25 initial sounds and 10 Special Friends. There are 12 sounds in Set 2 and children then see the same sounds but with a different spelling in Set 3. Set Groups A-C use magnetic boards – this helps them to have assisted blending teaching before moving onto the green word cards. We use the story books for every RWI group. Prior to the books we use Ditties and Sound Blending Books.

1-1 Tutoring happens daily for those children who need to catch up. Some children enter KS2 and are still on RWI. They continue to be closely monitored (some using the small steps tracker) by the Reading Lead and SENCO. We never give up on any child. Both the Reading Lead and the SENCO are working with the Communication Resource Lead to enable RWI to happen for all children irrespective of need or ability.

Assessment - Every half term, the Reading Leader along with the SENCO for those children in KS2 and some children in the Communication Resource assesses every child and then re-groups for the next half term. The data is shared with all SLT and reading teachers. For every child, gaps are identified and passed on so they are incorporated into the next teaching sessions. New 1-1 children are identified and liaised with the 1-1 tutors. New grouping grids with gaps are shared with every reading teacher.

Although children are formally assessed each half term through the on-line assessment tool, we are constantly assessing children each week and moving them on in their phonic development in order to close gaps with their peers.

Parental Engagement - Workshops are held as and when appropriate.  An introduction to Read Write Inc for Reception Parents are held every September. KS1 Parents – come in and watch Speed Sound Sessions. QR codes for speed sound lessons are shared with parents so they can support their child at home with watching sessions from the Ruth Miskin Portal. Books are sent home on a weekly basis. They start off with Blending Books and Ditty sheets then move onto the paper copies and book bag books that match.

CPD - Ruth Miskin Portal is purchased every year as an on-line subscription. This is so all staff can watch video clips of all lessons. Oxford Owl is purchased every year by subscription. Again, this is so all staff has access to the resources needed to teach the programme. We have termly RWI Development Days led by a trainer from Ruth Miskin Team. Training for all Reading Teachers happens at least every 3 weeks. This is in person.