Phonics & Early Reading

At Our Lady & St Patrick's, we implement a systematic, synthetic phonics approach, using the 'Read, Write Inc.' Phonics Programme.

'Read, Write Inc.' Phonics:

• Read Write Inc. Phonics is a structured programme that helps children learn to read, write and spell with confidence. It teaches them to recognise the sounds in words (phonics), blend these sounds to read, and use them to spell. The programme is taught in small, carefully matched groups so every child can progress at the right pace. Children also learn to read storybooks that match the sounds they know, which helps them build fluency, understanding and a real enjoyment of reading.

• It initially lays strong foundations in both oracy and literacy, starting with Nursery and Reception pupils and moving on to provide systematic teaching throughout the primary years and especially in Year 1, and into Year 2. 

• RWI provides a wide range of opportunities for children to explore and develop phonic knowledge and comprehension strategies, develop vocabulary and spelling..

• We rigorously track children's progress in phonics, to ensure that all children make progress in phonics and reading. We arrange early interventions for any children who need extra support in phonics.

• High quality daily phonics lessons in Early Years, through into Key Stage One  are the fundamental basis for learning to read in a structured and systematic way. 

If you have any questions about phonics and early reading, your child's class teacher would be your first point of contact for advice. However, if you would like to discuss any aspect  in more detail, the subject leader is Miss Nicholson, who would be pleased to help.

The Read, Write Inc. phonics scheme includes printed and online resources to cover:

• Daily phonics lessons to teach children sounds and how to blend them into words

• Reading storybooks that match the sounds they have learned

• Writing activities to develop spelling, grammar, and punctuation

• Speaking and listening tasks to build confidence and vocabulary

• Regular assessments to ensure children are learning at the right level

Please click on the icons below for more information on Phonics & Early Reading at Our Lady & St Patrick's:

Other Phonics Information

Reading

Reading is at the very heart of our curriculum, and is given a high priority in all classes and year groups, right across school.

From children's very first days in school, we aim to foster a love of language and reading, and one of our key priorities is to enable all children to become fluent readers.
 

All class timetables include daily reading sessions for guided and individual reading, as well as opportunities for story time and quiet reading.

Independent reading takes place on a daily basis to encourage a love of books and reading for pleasure. Children are encouraged to talk about their favourite authors and recommend stories to others. Whole class reading sessions cover all the skills of prediction, clarification, questioning and summary as well as overall comprehension of a text.

Across school, children will experience a wide range of authors and text types and will regularly hear books being read to them. Our curriculum is planned with quality texts at its very heart and all our learning springs from this.

If you have any questions about reading, your child's class teacher would be your first point of contact for advice.  Alternatively, if you would like to discuss any aspect of reading in more detail, the subject leader for early reading is Miss Nicholson, and Miss Fisher is the subject leader for reading in Key Stage 2.

At Our Lady & St Patrick's, reading is taught in line with the requirements of the National Curriculum Programmes of Study for Reading.

Our reading curriculum is also informed by the recommendations set out within the DfE's 'Reading Framework'.

Please click the links below to find out more about this:

Please click on the icons to find out more information about reading at Our Lady & St Patrick's

Enrichment opportunities:

• Regular visits to Maryport Library for story time, to learn library skills and choose books for class library

• Regular visits to the school library pod for story-time.

• Book Buddies

• Book Swap Events

• Scholastic Book Fairs

• Topic books displayed on all cross-curricular displays

• Author Visits

• Wordsworth Trust Poetry Workshops

• Maryport Speakers Competition

• Theatre Performances (Musical Theatre Visit, Pantomimes, Puppet Shows)

• End of Year Performance

• Assemblies throughout the year.

• Involvement in National reading events (National Poetry Day, Libraries Week, Storytelling Week, World Book Day)

• Strive for 5 Reading Raffle – encouragement to read at home with an adult

• Family Friday

Our School Library Pod

In March 2023, we were delighted to officially open our brand new school library!

When we surveyed the children about attitudes to reading, they told us that they loved reading, but, in order to make reading at OLASP even better, they would really love a school library.

So, we saved our pennies and were able to purchase a custom-made reading pod, as our wonderful new school library. We know the children will enjoy this lovely new space for years to come!

Every class visits our local library each year!