Phonics
Our intent
At Sea Mills Primary we use Unlocking Letters and Sounds to teach our children Phonic and early reading skills. By teaching phonics daily to children in Reception, Year One and Year Two we aim to ensure that our children quickly develop the skill of matching sounds to letters or groups of letters which will enable them to feel confident as readers and writers.
Our approach
- Children start their reading learning journey in the first term of Reception and make good progress with learning to read by using the sounds heard and said (phonemes) in the English language and matching these to the written letters (graphemes). They also learn to read common exception words to improve their reading skills. Children in Reception learn sounds and words in Phase 2 ,3 and 4.
- In Year One the children learn a variety of alternative spellings and pronunciation of graphemes and common exception words. At the end of Year One children will use phonics to decode and blend when reading and segment for spelling. Then, in the Summer term they take the national phonic screening check.
- In Year Two phonics continues to be applied and practised to ensure children master the use of the phonetic code.
- To ensure all pupils make progress children are regularly assessed and given extra support where needed through high quality 1:1 interventions. All monitoring takes place regularly and the lowest attaining 20% are closely monitored by the class teacher.
Unlocking Letters and Sounds
You can find out more details by downloading:
Unlocking-Letters-and-Sounds-progression
Unlocking letters and sounds actions and handwriting formations
Useful websites:
- https://ictgames.com/mobilePage/literacy.html
- Teach my monster how to read is a useful app with games to support children at the level they are at.
- https://www.phonicsbloom.com
- School you tube has so many more videos to support – https://www.youtube.com/channel/SeaMillsPrimarySchool
- Look at resources for our scheme “Unlocking letters and sounds” https://www.unlockinglettersandsounds.co.uk
- You can find unlocking letters and sounds lessons and how to say the phonemes on youtube if you search St Peter’s Primary school, Portishead, Phonics.
Loads of free resources for children to access as well as information for parents on the six phases of Letters and Sounds.
BBC bitsize
Follow this link to bbc bitesize. Scroll down the page to find the phonics links!
Phonics Play has free resources for children to access as well as information for parents on the six phases of Letters and Sounds. For a glossary of definitions, follow the link to Phonics Play, click on ‘Teachers’ and then ‘Subject Knowledge.’
Presently phonics play is free without having to subscribe! Username : jan21 Password: home
Twinkl is a website full of resources for each phase that can be used as visual aides to teach and remind children of sounds and tricky words.
Phonics Bloom
This website gives you access to information about phonics and a few free games to play at home.
https://www.phonicsbloom.com/uk/game/list/phonics-games-phase-3
