SubjectsPhonics

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a systematic synthetics phonics programme (SSP) which aims to help all children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The programme is designed for children aged 4-7 years old. However, we recognise as a school that some children will take a little a longer to develop their phonological awareness and fluency in reading, so your child will continue to be taught the RWI programme until they are assessed as able to graduate.

 

How will RWI be taught to my child?

RWI works on the principle of ensuring that your child’s phonics teacher knows the exact sounds to target through careful and regular phonic assessments.

Children are assessed around every 5-6 weeks by a school assessor- who may not be your child’s class teacher but is most likely an adult within the school with whom they feel confident and comfortable around.

In order for us to target your child’s phonic level, following the assessments, your child will be put into a phonics group. It is important to note that your child’s phonics group may not be taught by their class teacher. We use this approach to ensure that we can target the needs of the children and match their phonic level. However, it is important to emphasise that these groups are fluid and your child may move group depending on their progress.

 

Reception

The focus of learning in Reception is to enable all children to learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down.

Reading

The children will:

  • learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/letter groups using simple picture prompts

  • learn to read words using Fred talk and sound blending

  • read from a range of storybooks and non-fictions books matched to their phonic knowledge

  • develop comprehension skills in stories

 

Writing

The children will:

  • learn to write and form the letters/letter groups which represent the 44 sounds with the help of fun phrases

  • learn to write words by using Fred Talk

  • learn to build sentences by practising sentences out loud before they write 

 

Talking

The children will work in pairs so that they:

  • answer every question

  • practise every activity with their partner

  • take turns in talking and reading to each other

  • develop ambitious vocabulary

 

It is important to emphasise that any child who is not making the expected progress or is struggling to grasp and retain initial sounds will be closely monitored and parents will be informed. In addition to this, any child who comes to Barns Green Primary with Pre-SENDs around Speech and Language will also be closely monitored during the initial stages of RWI to ensure they are able to follow and keep up with their taught sounds.

 

Year One & Year Two

The same cycle and approach to teaching RWI continues in Year One and Year Two, and beyond where appropriate and needed. The children will continue to be assessed and grouped to match their phonics levels.

By this stage, most children will be progressing through more complex sounds and they will continue to access reading texts that are matched to their phonic sound knowledge.

Once children become fluent and speedy readers, they will move off the RWI phonics programme onto books that are not specifically linked to phonic sounds taught and focus more on comprehension skills. It is important to note that as the children progress with their phonics, their fluency is measured in regards to how many words per minute they are able to read with accuracy.

One of the most important aspects of following the RWI scheme and the fundamental practise of home-learning support is that your child will be sent home with a book level that matches their phonic level. This means that your child should be able to fluently read the book that they are coming home with. They would have been taught and focused on the sounds within that book during the week and should have secure previous phonic knowledge to support them in accurately reading the book. The aim of reading this book at home is for enjoyment and confidence building!