Early Reading & phonics

Aims

At Gilberdyke Primary School, all teachers are committed, passionate and driven to ensure that all children become proficient readers by the end of Key Stage One. We are determined that every pupil will learn to read, regardless of their background, needs or abilities and that all pupils, including the weakest readers, will make sufficient progress to meet or exceed age-related expectations. Children at Gilberdyke Primary School will secure automatic decoding skills and progress from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn’ for purpose and pleasure.

Our Intent:

  • Our priority is that every child is a fluent reader by the end of KS1, regardless of their background, needs or prior attainment.
  • We aim to inspire and challenge our children, through a safe, happy and nurturing learning environment, to achieve excellent standards including all aspects of the National Curriculum objectives for reading.
  • To engage and excite our children in reading and phonics in order to promote a love of reading for every child.
  • To ensure that children with Speech, Language and Communication difficulties are given every opportunity to close the gaps with their peers.
  • To ensure that every child learns to read to a high standard of fluency and understanding, regardless of their background, needs or prior attainment.
  • To equip our children with a wide ‘reading diet’ so that they become well rounded readers
  • To close the ‘word gap’ in order to expand pupils’ vocabulary and deepen their understanding of the texts they are reading.
  • To ensure that any gaps in learning, as a result of COVID, are closed and pupils meet age related expectations in reading and phonics
  • To enable our children to articulate their learning confidently and to remember knowledge and vocabulary in reading and phonics
  • To prepare and inspire our children for further learning in reading in secondary school and beyond.

Our Implementation – Phonics:

  • Phonics is implemented through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. This programme was chosen due to its rigour and systematic approaches, providing our children with a fast paced, ambitious approach with fully aligned resources and decodable reading books. It also provides a well-sequenced, thorough approach to teaching children to read with fluency.
  • There is a priority on CPD for all staff, including the use of Little Wandle training portal.

Our Impact:

  • Phonics teaching is strong, as a result of high quality coaching and CPD.
  • Children become fluent readers by the end of KS1.
  • Children are passionate about reading. sharing their love of reading with family and friends.
  • Our Reading Lead is a Literacy Specialist for the English Hub, sharing best practice and inspiring schools beyond our immediate locality.
  • Phonics screening check results are in line with or above national

Further information:

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from pupils

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from pupils

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from parents

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

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Quotes from parents

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Quotes from parents

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Quotes from parents

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Quotes from Year 6 pupils

‘Gilberdyke is a kind and respectful school with trusted people to talk to. Everyone gets along with each other because of the values about respect, responsibility and resilience.’

Quotes from Year 6 pupils