Intent

At Steeple Claydon School we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader and writer. We use the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, developed by Ruth Miskin, to provide a structured, systematic approach to the teaching of early reading and writing.

Our intent is that all children:

• Develop a love of reading and view reading as an enjoyable and valuable life skill.
• Learn to decode words quickly and accurately using phonics.
• Build reading fluency, comprehension and confidence.
• Apply their phonics knowledge to spelling and writing.
• Make strong progress regardless of their starting points.

Through the consistent teaching of Read Write Inc. Phonics, children learn the relationship between sounds and letters (phoneme–grapheme correspondences) in a clear and progressive sequence. This enables them to read unfamiliar words, build vocabulary and access a wide range of texts.

The programme is delivered with fidelity and consistency across the school to ensure that all pupils receive high-quality phonics teaching. Children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their reading stage so that teaching is closely matched to their needs. Additional support is provided for pupils who require extra practice to keep up.

We aim for all children to:

• Become accurate and fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1
• Develop the confidence to read independently for pleasure and information
• Use their phonics knowledge to support spelling and writing across the curriculum

By prioritising early reading and using a systematic phonics approach, we ensure that every child has the foundations needed to succeed across all areas of learning.

Implementation

The teaching of phonics through Read Write Inc. Phonics is systematic, consistent and delivered with fidelity across the school.

Daily Phonics Teaching

Pupils in Reception and Key Stage 1 receive daily phonics lessons using the Read Write Inc. programme. Lessons are fast-paced, interactive and include:

• Learning new sounds and graphemes
• Blending sounds to read words
• Segmenting sounds to spell words
• Reading decodable books matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge
• Developing reading fluency and comprehension
• Practising spelling and sentence writing

Lessons follow a consistent structure which helps pupils build confidence and secure their learning.

Grouping and Assessment

Children are regularly assessed to ensure that teaching matches their stage of development. Based on these assessments, pupils are grouped according to their reading ability rather than age, allowing teaching to be closely matched to their needs.

Frequent progress monitoring ensures that pupils who need additional support are identified quickly and provided with targeted interventions to help them keep up.

Consistency and Fidelity

All staff delivering phonics are trained in the Read Write Inc. approach to ensure high-quality, consistent teaching. Lessons follow the programme structure closely to maintain fidelity and maximise impact.

The Reading Leader monitors the delivery of phonics through:

• Lesson observations
• Coaching and support for staff
• Regular pupil assessment
• Monitoring pupil progress

Reading Practice

Pupils read fully decodable books matched to their phonics knowledge to ensure they practise the sounds they have been taught. Reading sessions focus on:

• Accuracy
• Fluency
• Comprehension

Children take books home to read with parents or carers so they can practise their developing skills and build confidence.

Support

Pupils who require additional support in EYFS, KS1 or KS2 receive extra phonics sessions and targeted interventions to ensure they keep up with their peers. This is delivered through the RWI One-to-one Tutoring and Fresh Start intervention programme in Years 5 and 6. The aim is to close gaps quickly and ensure all pupils make strong progress.

Impact

The impact of our phonics teaching through Read Write Inc. Phonics, is that pupils develop the essential skills required to become confident, fluent readers and writers.

As a result of the consistent and systematic teaching of phonics:

• Pupils make strong progress in early reading from their individual starting points.
• Children develop the ability to decode unfamiliar words quickly and accurately using their phonics knowledge.
• Pupils demonstrate increasing reading fluency, allowing them to focus on understanding what they read.
• Children apply their phonics knowledge effectively in spelling and writing.
• Pupils develop confidence and enjoyment in reading, supporting a lifelong love of books.

Regular assessment ensures that pupils who need additional support are identified quickly and provided with targeted interventions. This enables gaps in learning to be addressed promptly and ensures that all pupils have the opportunity to keep up with the programme.

By the end of Key Stage 1, the majority of pupils are able to read fluently and with understanding, enabling them to access the wider curriculum successfully.

The success of the programme is measured through:

• Ongoing teacher assessment during lessons
• Half-termly Read Write Inc. phonics assessments
• Progress tracking across year groups
• Outcomes in the Phonics Screening Check in Year 1
• Monitoring of pupils’ reading fluency, comprehension and confidence

As pupils move beyond phonics, they are well-prepared to continue developing their reading skills through exposure to a wider range of texts and reading opportunities across the curriculum.