Phonics

At Croxby Primary School, our intent is to ensure that every child builds a strong foundation in early reading through high‑quality, systematic phonics teaching. We recognise that secure phonic knowledge is essential to enable children to decode unfamiliar words, read with increasing fluency, and become confident, enthusiastic readers. By using Little Wandle Phonics, a DfE‑approved programme, we deliver a progressive, research‑informed approach that aligns with the National Curriculum and Early Learning Goals.

Our aim is that all pupils:

• Build accurate decoding skills and develop reading fluency by the end of Key Stage 1
• Apply phonic knowledge confidently in both reading and spelling
• Foster a love of language and reading that supports their wider English curriculum
• Transition into Key Stage 2 with the necessary skills to access increasingly challenging texts

Phonics is the foundation upon which early reading success is built, and our curriculum ensures every learner has the opportunity to master these essential skills.

Phonics is taught daily using a whole-class approach to ensure consistency, pace, and coverage for all pupils.

• EYFS: A 30-minute Little Wandle phonics lesson is taught each morning, alongside a daily afternoon keep-up and review session to revisit and embed previously taught learning.
• Year 1: A 30-minute Little Wandle phonics lesson is taught each morning, alongside a daily afternoon keep-up and review session to support retention and automaticity.
• Year 2: A 30-minute phonics lesson is taught each morning for children who have not yet completed the Little Wandle programme. This is supplemented by an afternoon phonics review and spelling session, enabling children to consolidate their phonic knowledge and apply it to spelling.

*To ensure all children keep up, targeted daily intervention groups are used to provide support to those who require additional practice.

We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme, which provides a clear and rigorous progression for the teaching of phonics. Phonemes, grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs) and tricky words are taught systematically and revisited regularly to ensure children build secure foundational knowledge. Parents and carers can access support materials, including pronunciation guides and information about each phase of learning, through the Little Wandle resources linked on our website.

Reading books in EYFS and Key Stage 1 are fully decodable and closely matched to each child's secure phonic knowledge. Children are introduced to a new reading practice book during three reading practice sessions each week, with a focus on decoding, prosody and comprehension. Once children can read the book confidently in school, it is sent home to celebrate their success and develop reading confidence and fluency. In addition, children take home a sharing book to enjoy with an adult, helping to foster a love of reading and develop wider language and comprehension skills.

Any child who is not keeping up with the programme receives timely keep-up support to help them secure the learning they need to become successful readers. In Year 2 and beyond, children who have not yet completed the Little Wandle programme continue to receive targeted phonics teaching and reading practice sessions through the Little Wandle Rapid Catch-Up Programme until they become fluent readers.

Our systematic, consistent, and predictable approach to phonics—supported by well-established learning routines—helps to reduce cognitive load for our learners, enabling them to focus on mastering new skills withing phonics with confidence. As a result, learners gain the essential early reading foundations needed for future success. By the end of Year 2, learners are expected to read fluently, decode confidently, and begin to spell accurately using their secure phonic knowledge.

We measure the impact of our phonics teaching through:

• Ongoing formative assessment in daily lessons
• Regular summative assessments to track progress
• Daily interventions to ensure children keep up rather than catch up
• Year 1 Phonics Screening Check outcomes

 Year 1 Phonics Screening Check Results

These consistently strong outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and reflect the high priority we place on early reading. Children leave Key Stage 1 well-prepared for the demands of the curriculum, with the reading fluency and confidence needed to thrive across all subjects. Our phonics provision ensures that every child has the tools to become a capable, motivated, and independent reader—laying the foundations for success throughout their time at Croxby and beyond.