Phonics

Phonics at St Thomas' CofE Academy

In the Autumn term we would normally invite parents into school to a phonics workshop, however due to the current COVID-19 guidelines we cannot offer this. Although in preparation for the phonics checks we would like to still offer this workshop to you.

In November the current Year 2 children will be taking a phonics screening check as they missed their Year 1 check due to lockdown. Year 1 will be screened in June 2021.

We have created our workshop as a video to inform you about the children’s journey of phonics at St Thomas’.

Teaching of Phonics at Saint Thomas’ C of E Primary Academy

At St. Thomas’ we follow the DfES Letters and Sounds programme for the teaching and learning of phonics, from Reception to Year 2. Our long-term teaching progression is set out below:

** Letters and Sounds Phase 6 is taught through English grammar and spelling lessons, at appropriate times, in Years 1 and 2.

• Intervention Groups in every class group focus on those children who are not at ARE and take place as well as First Wave Phonic Teaching. At the end of Year 1, children who have not achieved the National Standard receive additional support in Year 2.
• Assessments take place on a regular basis. Staff use the same Phonic analysis sheets and highlight those children who need to be in the spotlight (bottom 20% of pupils).
• ‘Jolly Phonics’ is used to support the teaching of letter sounds in Reception.
  
  
• ‘Floppy’s Phonics’ picture cue flash cards, books and resources are used to support the teaching of letter sounds in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.
• Staff teach the reading and spelling of common exception words ongoing throughout the year. Regular assessments of these take place and identified spotlight children receive extra support with these as part of the teaching and learning in Intervention Groups.