Phonics Programme at Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School
At Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident and enthusiastic reader. To achieve this, we implement the validated synthetic phonics programme, Read Write Inc. (RWI), developed by Ruth Miskin.
What is Read Write Inc.?
Read Write Inc. is a comprehensive literacy programme designed to teach children to read and write fluently. It focuses on systematic phonics instruction, enabling children to decode words effortlessly, which lays the foundation for reading comprehension and writing skills.
How We Implement RWI:
Benefits of RWI:
For more information about the Read Write Inc. programme, please visit the Ruth Miskin Literacy website.
By adopting the RWI programme, we ensure that every child has the best opportunity to become a proficient reader and writer, setting them on a path to academic success and a lifelong love of reading.
Beyond Phonics: Reading Curriculum at Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School
At Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School, our reading curriculum ensures that pupils develop strong comprehension skills, a broad vocabulary, and a lifelong love of reading. Following phonics instruction, our approach focuses on fostering fluency, understanding, and engagement with texts.
Comprehension
To give our children the best possible foundation, we teach reading comprehension through direct instruction with an emphasis on fluency and modelling key reading domains outlined in the National Curriculum, such as:
These sessions take place twice a week and conclude with an ‘unseen’ text, similar in style to the studied text. This allows children to apply their learning in a new context, reinforcing skills and building confidence.
PALS+
On the other three days, children participate in PALS+ lessons, adapted from the evidence-based PALS-UK programme, which secured an average of 2 months additional progress for each child in reading in a 2022 EEF trial. You can read more about PALS-UK here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects-and-evaluation/projects/pals-uk-accelerator-fund. These lessons are enhanced with a specific focus on tier 2 vocabulary—high-utility words that bridge everyday language and academic vocabulary.
For Year 2 pupils who complete the phonics programme, we offer Petit PALS, a scaled version of PALS+ that introduces reading strategies while maintaining a strong vocabulary focus.
PALS+ Structure
The core of PALS+ is a contextual focus on vocabulary development throughout the lesson. The structure includes:
Class Read: Reading for Pleasure
Every class enjoys a daily read-aloud session, fostering a love of stories and providing pupils with an expert model of fluent reading. This story is read at least four times a week, offering opportunities for children to hear rich language in context.
Reading Assessments at Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School
At Sir John Moore C.E. Primary School, we use a combination of formative and summative assessments to ensure a clear understanding of each child’s reading progress and to guide future teaching.
Formative Assessments
Formative assessments are carried out regularly during reading lessons and throughout the term. These allow teachers to monitor progress, address gaps in knowledge, and adapt their teaching to meet pupils' needs. Key elements of our formative assessment include:
Summative Assessments
Summative assessments are used to evaluate reading progress at key points in the year. These provide a broader overview of each child’s achievement and areas for development.
Rising Stars NTS Reading Assessments: