Reading & Phonics

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:

  • Early Reading Focus: From the outset, children are introduced to sounds and letters, allowing them to start reading words and simple sentences early in their learning journey.
  • Small Group Instruction: Pupils are grouped according to their reading level, ensuring tailored instruction that meets each child's specific needs. This approach allows for focused teaching and rapid progress.
  • Engaging Materials: The programme includes a variety of storybooks and non-fiction texts that are closely matched to the children's phonics knowledge, promoting both reading for pleasure and information.
  • Regular Assessment: Continuous monitoring of each child's progress ensures that they are always working at an appropriate level and receive additional support if needed.

Benefits of RWI:

  • Accelerated Learning: The structured approach of RWI enables children to make swift progress in reading and writing.
  • Confidence Building: Early success in reading boosts children's confidence and fosters a love for learning.
  • Foundation for Future Learning: Mastery of phonics through RWI provides a solid foundation for all future literacy skills.

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:

  • Author choice
  • Vocabulary
  • Compare, contrast, and comment
  • Retrieval
  • Inference
  • Summary and prediction

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:

  1. Partner Reading & Vocabulary Flagging: Pairs read and highlight important vocabulary.
  2. Retell: Pupils summarize the passage verbally.
  3. Paragraph Shrinking: Pupils distill main ideas into concise sentences. (Petit PALS uses “Page Shrinking.")
  4. Prediction Relay: Partners predict what will happen next.
  5. Vocabulary Retrieval:
    • Whole class definitions 
    • Partner retrieval 
    • Teacher-led context story & pupil story
    • Vocabulary Corner/ Quiz

 

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:

  • Classroom Observations: Teachers assess pupils’ fluency, comprehension, and engagement during guided and independent reading activities.
  • Retrieval Quizzes: Weekly low-stakes quizzes on vocabulary and comprehension help reinforce previous learning and provide insights into areas needing additional focus.
  • Ongoing Feedback: Teachers provide immediate, specific feedback during lessons to support skill development and confidence.

 

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:

    • Conducted three times a year, these standardised tests provide a reliable measure of reading progress.
    • Results build progressively and align with national expectations, helping our teachers to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
    • Teachers use detailed GAP analysis to tailor instruction and close learning gaps effectively.
    • The low-stakes testing environment familiarises children with formal assessments, reducing anxiety and preparing them for future statutory assessments