Phonics
At Springfield, we use the Pearson Bug Club phonics programme to teach synthetic phonics which has been DFE approved and is closely aligned to Letters and Sounds.
Phonics in EYFS
Phonics is explicitly taught whole class twice daily. The first session is called The Reading Hour which involves children reviewing, learning something new and applying to reading and writing. This hour also includes a guided read where children will work closely with their key worker to explore a text which matches their phonics learning. The second session is a review to embed children’s learning further. Children who require further support will be part of an intervention group which is closely monitored by or led by the class teacher so that continuous provision provides further opportunity to embed learning.
Phonics in KS1
Phonics is taught daily as part of The Reading Hour. This is taught whole class and children who require support will work in an intervention group. Guided Reading will run with children exploring books that match the phonics the children are learning to ensure a cohesive approach. In Year 1, opportunities to embed learning are made in continuous provision. In English lessons, teachers link lessons to phonics, ensuring that children are applying new learning to their reading writing.
Reading
Across school, each class runs The Reading Hour. In EYFS and KS1 children engage with their phonics lesson within this hour. In the Autumn term, year 3 will also complete phase 5 and 6 of Bug Club Phonics to ensure children have a firm foundation of phonics following COVID lockdowns.
The Reading Hour: EYFS & KS1
As explained above, children complete the Phonics lesson in accordance with the Pearson Bug Club Phonics programme. In addition to this, teachers will also run Guided Reading. Most classes will use a carousel approach with activities linked to reading taking place whilst an adult reads with a group. The books used for Guided Reading are from Bug Club and are broken down into phonic phases to ensure children are embedding sounds they have learnt. As part of this hour, teachers will also read a story or a class novel with the children. This is an engaging text that is slightly above the average reading age of the children in class.
