Phonics

Bug Club Phonics

At Holmleigh we follow the Bug Club Phonics to teach phonics. Daily phonics sessions begin in EYFS and continue in Year 1 and Year 2.

Bug Club Phonics is a fun and interactive approach to teaching children to read and write. In addition to their daily phonics session, children in key stage 1 have Daily Supported Reading and daily Literacy lessons.

Phonics lessons are normally taught in streamed groups across reception and KS1, however, due to Covid restrictions, this is currently delivered in the year group. Pupils are assessed at the end of each unit and phase. Each day the children revise recent sounds, learn a new sound, practice the sounds in words and apply the sounds to reading or writing. Children also learn high-frequency words in these sessions.

There is a national Phonics Check for Year 1 in the Summer Term. All children will be assessed on their ability to decode 40 real and pseudowords and the results are made available to the parents.

Children who do not reach the required pass will be required to repeat the Phonics Check in Year 2. These children will receive additional support in small groups in Year 2 and beyond if necessary.

Ongoing support with reading and phonics is provided by the Reading Recovery Trained member of staff.  Support staff are given specific training for in-class reading and interventions.

Parents and Phonics

There are many resources, programmes and apps which can support your child’s learning at home – and your class teacher can also explain the learning that takes place.

Help with pronunciation and classroom learning –  some parents may find the pronunciation and letter names confusing,  Mr Thorne Does Phonics is a great site with easy to watch videos that will guide you through the expectations.

In the Autumn term, there is a parent/carers meeting to explain how we teach Phonics and the Year 1 Phonics Check.