English - Phonics and Intervention
The reading fluency group is great. It has helped me get more fluent with expression when I read. I now love reading!
Year 5 Pupil
Intent
Early reading begins with phonics. For children who need to consolidate those early reading techniques, we have constructed a formal waved approach to aid their catch up. The bespoke approach is made up of a combination of interventions:
- a daily, direct, focused phonics session based on the Little Wandle programme
- a diet of progressive early reading books aimed at pupils aged 7+ linked directly to the phonics programme and the phonetic sound they are learning
- targeted group fluency sessions with engaging texts
- 1 to 1 reading support using a range of books at the appropriate level
- comprehension catch up interventions including 'Targeted Reading Intervention' (TRI)
Staff analyse reading assessments to make informed decisions about each pupil’s future developments. We strive to ensure that pupils who are not at age-related expectations in reading are able to catch up, closing the gap between them and their peers.
Implementation
Little Wandle
- We use The Rapid Catch Up Programme which is designed to support those children age 7+ who are still not meeting age related expectations in word reading and need support still to master the phonics code. They use and apply these in decoding and writing which develops confidence and a love of reading. The sessions are engaging but challenging which ensures that the children move through the units at an appropriate pace. Assessments are regularly conducted to ensure that any gaps are immediately addressed and there is a clear emphasis on accelerated progress.
- We use the SEND Phonics Programme which has resources, planning and guidance for those children who need a graduated approach to phonics.
- We use the Fluency Programme to support those pupils in lower school who have mastered the phonics code but are still not reading at age related expectation in fluency.
Further information, guidance and ideas about home learning can be found using the links below:
Impact
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Reducing the Attainment Gap: By using the Rapid Catch-Up and SEND Phonics programs, we aim to rapidly close the gap between pupils and their peers.
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Building Decoding Independence: Through daily, focused sessions and age-appropriate (7+) phonetic books, we empower pupils to decode complex text independently, removing the "guesswork" from reading.
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Developing Reading Fluency & Stamina: Our Fluency and TRI interventions aim to move pupils from laborious decoding to effortless reading. This allows their cognitive energy to shift from "sounding out" to "understanding meaning."
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Fostering Literacy Confidence: We strive to replace reading anxiety with a genuine "love of reading." By providing books matched exactly to their phonetic knowledge, pupils experience immediate success, which builds the self-esteem necessary to tackle more challenging texts.
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Curriculum Accessibility: The ultimate impact is to ensure every pupil can fully access the wider curriculum. By mastering reading, students can independently explore History, Science, and the Arts, unlocking their full potential across all subjects.