Early Reading in Reception Class

Learning to Read

Why read?

Learning to read is an incredibly important life skill your child will learn. Everything else depends on it, so we put as much energy as we possibly can into making sure that every single child learns to read as quickly as possible. 

We want all children to love reading – and to want to read for themselves. This is why we put our efforts into making sure they develop a love of books as well as simply learning to read.

Phonics

Systematic synthetic phonics is taught using the Read Write Inc scheme.

This approach teaches children to hear sounds, read the grapheme or graphemes (letters) that represent these sounds and blend them to learn to read.

Books that are read in phonics sessions at school will only contain the sounds that the children have learnt and are matched to their phonics ability so that children can read efficiently and fluently.

The Five Principles

1. PACE – no time is wasted during teaching sessions! Children are active and involved in a fun and creative way. The aim is for the children to complete the programme as quickly as possible.
2. PRAISE – teachers praise the children constantly throughout the teaching sessions. Children learn more quickly when they are praised for what they do well.
3. PURPOSE – each activity has a very clear purpose. The teacher will set this purpose at the beginning of the lesson so that the children know exactly what they will be learning.
4. PARTICIPATION – all children take part in all parts of the lesson. Full participation is gained through partner work and choral response.
5. PASSION – as a staff we are passionate about our teaching and the benefits of the Read, Write Inc. programme! We love teaching the sessions and this enthusiasm rubs off onto the children.

Below are some useful documents to support early reading at home: