Intent

​At George Grenville Academy, the systematic teaching of phonics has a high priority. We value reading as a key life skill and are dedicated to enabling our pupils to become life- long readers. We also value and encourage the pupils to read for pleasure and recognise that this starts with learning the knowledge and skills essential for reading (letter-sound correspondences, blending and segmenting skills.)  

Implementation

​We systematically teach the essential skills needed for reading following the Sounds~Write phonics programme alongside Letters and Sounds. Children throughout Reception and Key Stage 1 take part in daily phonics sessions. These sessions focus on key reading skills; decoding to read words and segmenting to spell words. During Phonics lessons, we also teach children to read and write ‘tricky words’ also known as ‘high frequency words.’ These are words that you may not be able to sound out just yet. We talk about the ‘tricky’ part of the word and encourage the children to ‘train their brain’ to remember the word. 

Starting in Reception, we implement aspects of the Read Write Inc Guided Reading programme, embedding decoding skills and improving fluency. In EYFS and KS1, all children have home reading books which match their phonics knowledge and skills. In all year groups, children reading below age-related expectations receive targeted support.
Phonics is taught in small, ability groups throughout Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.

Impact

Through the teaching of systematic phonics, our aim is for children to become truly independent, fluent readers by the end of Key Stage 1 and develop a life- long love of reading. Attainment in reading is measured using statutory assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 and 2. These results are measured against the reading attainment of children nationally. Attainment in phonics is measured by the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1. However, we firmly believe that reading is the key to all learning. Children start with learning to read, leading to reading to learn. Therefore the impact of our phonics programme and reading curriculum is potentially one of the most powerful ways of improving outcomes for children in school and beyond, in the wider world. 
Phonics Results 2018 - 2019
Year 1 - 82% achieved the expected standard
Year 2 - 100% achieved the expected standard
Please note, there is no published phonics data for 2019 - 2020 or 2020 - 2021 due to coronavirus.

Supporting your child at home

Click on the link to access some games to support you child with their phonics.
Click on links to access high frequency word lists.

Reading At Home

To start with, children will be given a phonics book to support their reading at home. The more children practise reading each day, the better readers they will eventually become so we really encourage our children to read each evening. For every 5 reads the children complete, they receive a sticker and a chance to enter a weekly reading raffle/ When they have mastered phonics, they will move onto a reading scheme. We hope that they move through this quickly as the main goal to to become free readers so children can discover books that they enjoy.
​Please click on the links below for our recommended reads:
Brilliant Books for 0-6
Brilliant Books for 6-9
Brilliant Books for 8-12

Or why not visit the Book Trust who provide monthly recommended updates?
George Grenville Academy, Chandos Road, Buckingham, MK18 1AP. 
Email:office@georgegrenville.co.uk Tel 01280 813273