How Reading Works in Early Years to KS1
We use 'Collins Big Cat' reading books that have be created for the 'Little Wandle' phonics programme. These books are fully decodeable and they begin with wordless books and continue to the end of phase 5. Children begin with wordless books to develop their book handling skills and vocabulary, before moving onto worded books as they begin to recognise letters and blend cvc words. The book scheme works along side the 'Little Wandle' phonics programme. Our guided reading session use the same book four times a week to focus on the three key reading skills; decoding, prosody and comprehension. The books are matched to the child’s secure phonics knowledge using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised assessment and book matching grids. Once children complete phase 5, they do a fluency test and then move onto the new Little Wandle fluency reading programme that has be created for the 2023/34 academic year. Children currently in Year 2 will continue this programme until they complete it in year 3.
Below are a range of images to show the different books used in the programme, from wordless books to fluency books. The texts are high quality, decodable, fun, fiction and non-fiction and cater for all interests. We have seen a really positive impact and a greater love of reading from children since introducing these books.
Daily Reading Sessions
Children read in small groups with a trained adult, reading a book linked to their stage of phonics which they use for the full week. Having the same book for a week improves fluency and confidence in their reading abilities. The sessions develop their skills of de-coding, prosody (expression) and comprehension. Within these sessions they also have activities that help them practise their tricky words and letter recognition. These session are well planned, structured and most importantly fun, children have the reading routine embedded and there is consistency across all groups.
PHONICS
Daily Phonics Sessions
Phonics is taught daily in Reception to Year 2. These sessions follow a detailed plan and all staff members follow the same structure to ensure consistency. in reception, we build from 10-minute lessons, with additional daily oral blending games, to the full-length lesson as quickly as possible. In year 1 phonics sessions are 45-60 minutes long. Each Friday, we review the week’s teaching to help children become fluent readers. Children in Reception are taught to read and spell words using Phase 2 and 3 GPCs, and words with adjacent consonants (Phase 4) with fluency and accuracy. Children in Year 1 review Phase 3 and 4 and are taught to read and spell words using Phase 5 GPCs with fluency and accuracy. Once children complete Phase 5 in Year 2, they moved onto the Little Wandle spelling programme which provides a seamless link from the core Letters and Sounds Revised programme to teaching spelling in Year 2. Keep up sessions in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are delivered by trained adults within the class daily. The rapid catch up interventions for KS2 are delivered by a trained adult who carries the sessions out in an calm specialised intervention room daily. Below are some lesson examples and photos of the staff and children in action.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Website
The link below will take you to the parents page on the 'Little Wandle' website, where you can find information, videos and print out to help support your child at home.
For parents - Letters and Sounds (littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk)
Early Reading and Phonics Policy
Progression Overviews
Attached below are the progression overviews from Reception to Year 2, including interventions that are followed by all staff teaching Little Wandle across school.