Children in EYFS and KS1 are taught to decode words through a systematic phonics approach. Our chosen Systematic Synthetic Phonics program is ‘Essential letters and Sounds’. All children receive discrete daily sessions in either whole class or smaller groupings, which change regularly to meet the needs of our children. Opportunities to practise and apply their ever-expanding phonic knowledge are included in all daily sessions and are inter-woven into the wider school curriculum. Children are given additional opportunity to practise the new grapheme-phoneme correspondences learnt each week through the use of a carefully selected e-book, sent home using an on-line platform.
At Cradley CE Primary we acknowledge to importance of parental support and involvement when teaching children to read. During their Reception Year, parents are invited to attend phonic workshops and information regarding the letters and sounds covered each week during our phonic sessions is included on the weekly newsletter. During Year 1, additional phonics meetings are offered in preparation for the phonics screening.