Phonics
At Wyvern, we follow the ALS phonics validated scheme when teaching children to read and write. The systematic and synthetic scheme is based on the principles of Letters and Sounds developed by Ann Smalberger, Literacy consultant. ALS phonics ensures a consistent approach from EYFS to KS1.
Children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 have daily whole class phonic sessions and also learn to read and spell ‘tricky’ words: words which do not always rely on phonics.
All children work through the following phases in phonics:
Phase 1 focuses on playing with sounds –recognising everyday sounds, rhythm and rhyme, alliteration and orally blending and segmenting.
Phase 2 focuses on learning all single letter sounds and how to read and write them in words.
Phase 3 focuses on learning simple digraph (2 letters 1 sound) and trigraph (3 letters 1 sound) sounds and applying these in words and sentences (for example, igh, oo, ear and er).
Phase 4 focuses on learning adjacent consonants in words (for example, fl, pr, cr, and st).
Phase 5 focuses on learning alternative digraph and trigraph sounds and applying these in words and sentences (for example, ie, ph, oe and ai).
High Frequency Words
High frequency words or tricky words as they are also known as, are taught during phonic and English lessons. Some of the words are decodable although the children are encouraged to ‘see the word and say the word’. This is to encourage fluency in their reading.
Children are assessed throughout EYFS and KS1 with statutory testing in Year1 (and testing in Year 2 for those who have not passed yet). Interventions are put in place for children who still require phonics or are new to the school/country.
