Phonics


Phonics

What is Read Write Inc Phonics?

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a comprehensive literacy programme that teaches children reading, spelling, and handwriting. We teach RWI daily in EYFS and KS1; in reception for 30 minutes and in Year 1 and 2 for 45 minutes. In Reception, children participate in shorter lessons that increase in duration throughout the year. Children are in groups appropriate to their phonic level and children are re-assessed and re-grouped each half-term. Each lesson includes phonics, reading, spelling, and handwriting.


What does the programme look like in each year group?

In Reception, the children learn the sounds that individual letters make and how to blend these sounds into words. They also learn how these sounds are written with proper letter formation. In this way, children are also learning to spell. When they are ready, children begin to learn digraphs, which are two (or sometimes more) letters that together make one sound, such as th, ch, qu, ng, and nk. 

The progression of sounds, separated into Sets 1, 2, and 3, is presented in the charts below.

Children continue learning and reviewing phonic sounds in Years 1 and 2. By the end of Year 1, children should know all the Set 1 and 2 sounds, as well as almost all the Set 3 sounds. They should also be able to read a story at 60 words per minute. The children will practise reading these sounds in engaging books that match their phonic level.

In Year 2, children continue to develop their phonic knowledge but focus more on increasing their fluency and comprehension. Children should be able to read a story at 100 words per minute in order to complete the programme by the end of Year 2. Some children finish the programme before the end of Year 2 and instead participate in reading lessons which encourages reading a variety of texts and completing activities based on the reading domains set within the National Curriculum.  


What other literacy lessons will children have?

We read to the children daily during story time, so the children get to know all sorts of stories, poetry and information books. These story times are engaging and help to develop a love of reading in the children. Children also learn many more words this way and it also helps their writing.

In Reception, Years 1 and 2, children also have additional English and writing lessons throughout the day to ensure they develop all their literacy skills, including writing composition and handwriting. 

Furthermore, all classes have a protected weekly timetabled slot to visit our school library to immerse themselves in a huge variety of fiction, non-fiction, picture, and chapter books again to develop a love of reading.


What will children read at home?

In Years 1 and 2, and later in Reception, children bring home reading books that are matched to their phonic knowledge; RWI Books. These are the same books the children read in their Phonics sessions. These should be read multiple times as children improve their decoding, fluency, and comprehension every time they read the same story.

Teachers can also share video links from the RWI School Portal for children to view at home. This can be excellent additional practice for children as it will consolidate what they have learnt in school.

We also have access to the Oxford Owl eBook Library, through which children can read the same books from their lessons and many other books available on the website. This is available to all children in EYFS and KS1. You can access the Oxford Owl eBook Library at this link: https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/. Please contact your child’s teacher if you need help logging in to your child’s account.

We also encourage parents and carers to read to and with children as much as possible! Story time can be a special bonding experience and will help to develop a love of reading, expand vocabulary, and an understanding of story structure. It is also beneficial to read the same loved stories lots of times as children learn more every time they hear and read a story.


What will happen if children struggle with learning to read?

Children who struggle to learn to read or who make slower progress in their reading development will receive one-to-one phonics tutoring at school. We use a tutoring programme from RWI that provides individualised lessons directed at the exact gaps’ children have in their reading development.

Teachers can share information about your child’s progress with you and can suggest additional practice for them to complete at home. This may include word lists, extra reading books, or video links shared from the RWI School Portal.


What are some key ideas and phrases parents and carers should understand?

Special Friends: Two or more letters that make one sound, rather than individual sounds. These begin at the end of Set 1 and make up all sounds in Sets 2 and 3. Examples include: th, qu, ee, igh, ou, oi, a-e, air, ure. Children are taught to spot the special friends in a word before they work through each sound.

Fred Talk: The process of saying each sound in a word before blending the sounds together. After children spot any special friends (or say that there are none for simpler words), they say each sound either aloud or in their heads (Fred in your head). The children then blend the sounds together into the full word.

Red Words: The children also practise reading (and spelling) what are called ‘red words,’ such as ‘once,’ ‘call,’ ‘said’ and ‘where.’ These words do not follow phonics rules and must be remembered as they cannot be sounded out phonetically.

Decoding: The process of breaking a word down into its sounds, then blending the sounds together to say the whole word. Children first look for and say any special friends, then they Fred Talk each sound, and then they read the word.

Fluency: The skill of reading smoothly and quickly, which children develop after they learn phonics sounds and can decode words quickly.

Comprehension: The skill of understanding a story after reading it one or more times. Children can comprehend a story when they can talk about it and answer questions about what happened, what characters might be feeling, and what might happen next.


Where can I learn more?

You can learn more about RWI Phonics and how to support your child’s reading at home at this link: https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/parents-copy-2/


 

RWI Expectations

RWI Overview

RWI Progression of Skills Grid

Resources:

Set 1 Sounds

Set 2 Sounds

Set 3 Sounds

Useful Website Links:

https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkXcabDUg7Q