Phonics and Reading at Barnby Road

At Barnby Road Academy we follow the 'Read, Write, Inc. Phonics' programme (RWI) to teach children to read and spell. This programme is for children in Nursery to Year 2 who are learning to read and write. Any pupils in Year 3 and 4 who need to catch up may also access RWI to help them make rapid progress in reading.

From Reception, pupils work within ability groups which are reviewed regularly to ensure children are making rapid progress with their reading. These groups are usually smaller than a normal class size to enable us to target and support children to achieve their best and learn to read as quickly as possible. All of reading teachers undertake regular training and practice sessions to ensure the teaching of phonics at Barnby Road is of the highest quality.

The scheme includes both a reading and a writing focus:

Reading

Children learn the English alphabetic code: first they learn one way to read the 40+ sounds and blend these sounds into words, then learn to read the same sounds with alternative graphemes. They experience success from the very beginning. Lively phonic books are closely matched to their increasing knowledge of phonics and ‘tricky’ words and, as children re-read the stories, their fluency increases. Along with a thought-provoking introduction, prompts for thinking out loud and discussion, children are helped to read with a storyteller’s voice.

Writing

The children write every day, rehearsing out loud what they want to say, before spelling the words using the graphemes and ‘tricky’ words they know. 

A reading information session is held each year, in September, for Reception parents and careers. We explain how staff will teach children to read at Barnby Road and provide an information pack to help parents understand how to support their child at home.

We send home a copy of the RWI book that the children are reading at school in their lessons, alongside a 'RWI Book Bag' reading book that is closely matched to their phonic ability and links to the book they have been reading in school. Alongside this we send home a 'Family Library' book for you to share with your child at home and help them to develop a love of reading. Once children have completed the RWI programme and are reading with sufficient fluency, they will become a 'free reader' and be able to choose from a range of books for their home reading.

We are determined to ensure all children learn to read as quickly as possible and provide additional RWI and 1:1 tuition for any children who are working below the expected standard in Year R - Year 4. If children require additional reading support in Years 5 and 6, 'Literacy Gold' is utilised to support progress at both school and home. This is an online programme which is more age-appropriate for older children.

You can find out more about 'Read, Write, Inc.' on the websites below, where there are videos to help parents/carers support children learning to read at home and explain how to pronounce the sounds the children are learning in their RWI lessons.

Alternatively, please contact Miss Woolridge, our Phonics/Reading Leader, who is always happy to help - awoolridge@newarkbarnbyroad.notts.sch.uk 

Useful links

Read, Write, Inc. parents/carers page - advice for parents/carers to find out how to support their child's reading and writing at home.

Read, Write, Inc. films for parents/carers - YouTube channel providing information and guidance for parents/carers.

Oxford Owl Read, Write, Inc. resources and information - an abundance of resources to support parents/carers at home e.g. speed sound practice, handwriting practice, free RWI e-books, videos and guidance.