Phonics at Springdale
Intent
At Springdale Primary School, our intent is to ensure that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader and writer through the systematic teaching of phonics using the Read Write Inc and Fresh Start programmes. We aim to develop a love of reading and provide strong foundations for literacy, enabling all pupils—regardless of starting point or background—to access the full curriculum and achieve success.
Our phonics curriculum is designed to:
Teach children to read accurately and fluently as quickly as possible, but as slow as necessary.
Develop comprehension skills alongside decoding.
Foster confidence and enjoyment in reading and writing.
Ensure early intervention for pupils who need additional support.
Implementation
Daily Phonics Lessons: All pupils in EYFS and KS1 receive daily, structured phonics sessions following the RWI programme. Pupils in upper KS2 who require phonics teaching follow Fresh Start.
Grouping by Progress: Children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their phonics stage to ensure targeted teaching.
Trained Staff: All staff delivering phonics are fully trained in RWI to maintain consistency and high-quality teaching.
Assessment and Intervention: Half-termly assessments identify pupils needing extra support, and targeted interventions are provided promptly.
Home Reading: Pupils take home RWI Storybook Books and Book Bag Books matched to their phonics level to reinforce learning and build confidence.
Cross-Curricular Links: Writing opportunities are embedded across the curriculum to apply phonics knowledge in meaningful contexts.
Parental Engagement: Parents are supported through workshops and resources to help with phonics and reading at home.
Impact
Early Reading Success: Children become fluent readers by the end of KS1, enabling them to access the wider curriculum confidently.
High Standards: The majority of pupils achieve in line with in phonics screening and reading assessments. For those children who do not pass the screening check, the school identifies and addresses any additional barriers to learning through targeted interventions and personalised support.
Love of Reading: Children demonstrate enthusiasm for reading and writing, choosing books for pleasure and showing confidence in literacy tasks.
Closing Gaps: Targeted interventions ensure that pupils who start behind make rapid progress, reducing attainment gaps.
Long-Term Outcomes: Strong foundations in phonics lead to improved outcomes in reading comprehension, writing, and overall academic achievement.
Parent support materials
