At Edith Cavell we follow the Sounds-Write
Phonics programme to support all our children to learn to read, spell and write confidently.
Sounds-Write is validated by the Department for Education (DfE) in England as an effective systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP) It is an expertly structured synthetic programme based on the science of reading with multisensory, code-oriented and comprehensive approaches to literacy.
Sounds-Write is effective in teaching pupils to read, spell and write because it starts from what all children know from a very early age – the sounds of their own language. From there, it takes them in carefully sequenced, incremental steps and teaches them how each of the 44 sounds of the English language can be spelt.
When children start in Reception, they start the Sounds Write programme. Fidelity in teaching and delivery of the programme through the Reception year and on into year 1, gives children the skills, knowledge and resilience to manipulate sounds to develop their reading, spelling and writing skills.
At the end of Year 1, children’s phonic ability will be measured through the DfE Year 1 Phonics Screen Check, the results of which will be communicated to parents in their child’s End of Year Report. Children who do not meet the expected standard in Year 1 will be assessed again at the end of Year 2 after a further year of practising and developing their phonological skills, understanding and manipulating them.
Many parents express that they would like to support their child in developing their phonic skills but don’t know how to help. Below are links to free online video training that will provide parents with a basic understanding of how phonics works and enable you to help your child take their first steps in reading, spelling and writing.
https://www.udemy.com/course/help-your-child-to-read-and-write/
https://www.udemy.com/course/help-your-child-to-read-and-write-part-2/
If parents would like support in ensuring that they use ‘pure sounds’ when supporting their children who are at the very early stages of reading, this link will show you how to pronounce all 44 phonics sounds or ‘phonemes’.