Early Reading and Phonics
Early Reading and Phonics Curriculum Intent
Why do we teach our pupils:
Each of our children is a precious and unique individual, with God given talents and abilities, created to fulfil a special role in God’s intricate plan for the world.
‘“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.’ Jeremiah 29:11
Why do we teach Early Reading and Phonics?
At St Leonards, we believe that all our children can become fluent readers and writers. This is why we teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. We start teaching phonics in Nursery/Reception and follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised progression, which ensures children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.
As a result, most our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words as they read. At St Leonards we also model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.
How will our teaching of Early Reading and Phonics enable our pupils to fulfil the plan God has for them?
Our teaching of Early Reading and Phonics enables pupils to fulfil the plan God has for them by giving them the vital skills they need to access the richness of learning and life in all its fullness. Through learning to read with confidence and joy, children are empowered to explore God’s world, engage with stories that inspire imagination and empathy, and deepen their understanding of His word. Reading opens doors to knowledge, creativity, and communication, allowing pupils to discover and develop the unique gifts God has given them. By laying strong foundations in phonics and early reading, we equip every child not only to succeed academically but also to grow spiritually, socially, and emotionally, so that they may flourish as confident, thoughtful, and compassionate individuals.
What do we want to achieve by teaching Early Reading and Phonics?
By teaching Early Reading and Phonics, we want to give every child the strongest possible start on their journey as confident, fluent, and enthusiastic readers. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils quickly secure the phonics knowledge and decoding skills they need to read with accuracy, expression, and understanding. We want children to develop a love of books, stories, and language so that reading becomes both a joy and a gateway to future learning. Through high-quality teaching and carefully chosen texts, we aspire to nurture resilient, curious learners who can access the full curriculum, communicate effectively, and grow in confidence to use their literacy skills in all areas of life.
Discover what St Leonard’s students are learning — click the blue links below to view our Early Reading and Phonics curriculum.
St Leonard’s Primary School uses the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme to teach Early Reading and Phonics. Little Wandle is a systematic, synthetic phonics scheme that follows a carefully structured sequence, ensuring children build their phonics knowledge step by step. At St Leonard’s, all pupils begin their phonics journey in the early years and continue through Key Stage 1, with daily lessons that include revisiting sounds, teaching new graphemes, practising blending and segmenting, and applying skills in reading and writing.
We use fully decodable reading books that are closely matched to each child’s phonics stage, so they can practise their skills with confidence and experience success from the very beginning. Alongside this, children also enjoy rich, engaging stories to develop vocabulary and a love of reading. Teachers continually assess progress to identify children who may need extra support, and provide targeted interventions where necessary, so no child is left behind.
By using Little Wandle, St Leonard’s ensures that every child has the best possible foundation in reading, enabling them to become fluent, confident, and enthusiastic readers who can access the whole curriculum and enjoy the lifelong gift of reading.
Whole school Early Reading and Phonics overview
Early Reading and Phonics Progression Of Skills
Programme Overview Reception And Year 1
LS KEY GUIDANCE LW And The National Curriculum Year 1
Early Reading and Phonics Assessment
LS Key Guidance Assessment For Learning June 24
Assessment Teacher Mark Sheet April 2024
Early Reading and Phonics Adaptive Strategies
Adaptive Strategies