The systematic teaching of phonics has always had a high priority throughout Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. At St Anne's, we value reading as a key life skill, and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become lifelong readers. We acknowledge that children need to be taught the key skills in segmenting and blending to be equipped with the knowledge to be able to complete the phonics check at the end of Year 1. We also value and encourage the pupils to read for enjoyment and recognise that this starts with the foundations of acquiring letter sounds, segmenting and blending skills

Through the use of Monster Phonics the children are taught the essential skills needed for reading. Phonics is taught daily as a whole class to all children in Foundation Stage, and KS1. Each lesson lasts for 20 - 30 minutes and is delivered by staff who have been trained by Monster Phonics. Extra support is provided to those in Year 2 who have not passed phonics screening in Year 1 and additional interventions are delivered to those children who are working below expected levels. Staff rigorously and systematically teach learners the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and the written spelling patterns (graphemes) which represent them. Pupils have regular reading sessions with an adult thereby ensuring the pupils are regularly practising and applying their phonics knowledge. In the EYFS the continuous provision matches the pupil’s current knowledge and understanding whilst ensuring the children are suitably challenged. Teachers regularly assess the pupil’s phonics knowledge using the Monster Phonics assessments. These regular assessments inform planning and allow teachers to identify any gaps in learning. The children have decodable reading books which they are encouraged to read regularly at home which match their current phonics level.

Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become fluent readers by the end of Key Stage One. This way, children can focus on developing their fluency and comprehension as they move through the school. Attainment in reading is measured using the statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage One and Two. These results are measured against the reading attainment of children nationally. Attainment in phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Test at the end of Year 1. However, we firmly believe that reading is the key to all learning and so the impact of our reading curriculum goes beyond the results of the statutory assessments. Long term, we want children to develop a love of reading and to be able to talk enthusiastically about the joy derived from reading a good book.