At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, synthetic phonics is taught as the main approach to early reading.
Our school uses the Letters and Sounds phonics program which starts with Phase 1 in Nursery and continues into Reception and Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2).
Phonics is a fun, multi-sensory approach and linked with a range of reading resources.
Initially children learn to listen attentively for sounds and rhythms and then they begin to learn the sounds of single letters. They learn to blend these sounds into words (for example h-a-t would make hat). Children are taught how to decode and segment sounds in words in order that they can read and write more efficiently.
We continue to use the Letters and Sounds program throughout Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), working systematically through the different stages, up to Phase 6. By this time child will have developed a secure grasp of complicated letter strings which enables them to decode two and three syllable words. Reading evolves from learning to read, to reading to learn.
Some words, which cannot be phonetically sounded out, are taught at each phase. These are ‘tricky words’ and are taught through sight recognition.
Oxford Owl is a free website to help you support your child with reading at home. It includes a phonics guide (including how to say the sounds correctly), ideas for motivating boys to read and great ideas to keep your child reading throughout the holidays. There are also reading games and activities.?
We provide workshops at school to support parents and provide them with information and activities to help their child at home. Look out for dates when these will take place in the year.
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Nursery |
Reception |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
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Nursery Rhymes The Bad tempered ladybird Dear Zoo Farmer Duck Rosie’s Walk Mr Gumpy’s Outing Jaspers Beanstalk Owl Babies Elmer
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Peace at last The Naughty bus Dark Dark tale We’re going on a Bear Hunt Goldilocks Biscuit bear The hungry caterpillar Superkid Billy goats gruff The three little pigs Walking through the jungle Where the Wild Things Are My cat likes to hide in boxes Handa’s surprise What the Ladybird heard |
Jack’s big day Little red hen Little red riding hood Stickman The smartest giant in town Poetry unit Rainbow fish Paper bag princess Dinosaurs and all that rubbish Cinderella Pirates next door The night pirates The Beegu Funny bones Traction man
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Bob – the man on the moon The owl who was afraid of the dark The Hodgeheg War and peas The jolly Christmas postman The true story of the three little pigs Into the forest The lighthouse keeper’s lunch The snowman Gorilla Zoo The twelve dancing princesses The Whale Song |
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Amazing Grace Katie Morag delivers the mail Charlie’s superhero underpants |
Something else Voices in the park Once there were giants |