Phonics

Phonics

Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way – starting with the easiest sounds (phase 2) and progressing through to the most complex (phase 5) – it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read. Almost all those who receive good teaching of phonics will learn the skills they need to tackle new words when reading. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and most importantly to read for enjoyment. Our aim is that pupils at Dunston Primary and Nursery Academy will secure automatic decoding skills and progress from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’ for purpose and pleasure.

In Phonics we aim to:

• Teach every child to read.
• Ensure phonics and reading teaching is accessible to every child.
• Build each child's alphabetic code, to enable them to master phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
• Model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum.
• Instil confidence in every child with their encoding and decoding skills.
• Encourage every child to see themselves as a reader for both pleasure and purpose.

Phonics Screening Check

At the end of each six week block of phonics teaching, children’s knowledge and understanding will be assessed in an informal way to ensure they are on track for taking the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check in June. The Phonics Screening Check is a short, simple assessment to make sure that all pupils have learned phonic decoding to an appropriate standard by the age of 6. All Year 1 pupils in maintained schools, academies and free schools must complete the check.

The phonics check will help teachers identify the children who need extra help so they can receive the support they need to improve their reading skills. These children will then be able to retake the check in Year 2 after receiving additional support.