Phonics and Early Reading
Read, Write, Inc.
At Fladbury, we teach phonics through the Read, Write, Inc. scheme. All children are supported to make progress from their own starting points.
We carefully assess each child half-termly and place them in a group with children at the same stage. Children who are working below the expected level in phonics will receive 'Fast Track Phonics' interventions to support their progress.
The information below outlines roughly which levels we expect children to be working within throughout the year, in order to be making age related progress in phonics.
Reception
Autumn Half Term: Group B
End of Autumn Term: Group C
Spring Half Term: Ditty Group
End of Spring Term: Red Group
Summer Half Term: Green Group
End of Summer Term: Green/Purple Group
Year 1
Autumn Half Term: Purple Group
End of Autumn Term: Pink Group
Spring Half Term: Orange Group
End of Spring Term: Yellow Group
Summer Half Term: Yellow Group
End of Summer Term: Blue Group
Year 2
Autumn Half Term: Blue Group
End of Autumn Term: Grey Group
Spring Half Term: Grey Group
End of Spring Term: Comprehension Group
Read, Write, Inc Levels
Group A: Set 1 Sounds
The children may know a few single letter sounds. Lessons include teaching single letter sounds and assisting children to blend (using magnetic letters) in order to read CVC words. The children practise the formation of letters through the use of a phrase that is associated with the pictorial representation of the letter. After they have learnt the first few sounds they are taught to use ‘Fred Fingers’ to help them record simple words.
Group B: Set 1 Sounds
The children know most single letter sounds and now need to learn to blend orally. Lessons also focus on teaching gaps in single letter sounds.
Group C: Set 1 Sounds
The children know most single letter sounds and are able to blend orally. The gaps in single letter sounds are taught and further vocabulary containing ‘Special Friends’.
Ditty Group
The children know all Set 1 single letter sounds speedily and can blend sounds into words orally. They are able to Fred Talk most words. Lesson content involves continuing to teach and review Set 1 Sounds with the focus on the Special Friends sh ch th qu ng nk qu. In addition, the children learn to read the sounds and words needed to read a simple ditty sheet each day. They also write a simple phrase or sentence related to the ditty.
Red Group
The children know all Set 1 sounds speedily. They are able to Fred Talk most words and are now able to use the same skills to read alien/nonsense words. Lessons involve reviewing Set 1 Sounds and vocabulary. They also learn to read more words containing Special Friends and words that contain 4+ sounds. The children are now reading the Red Ditty Books. In Reception the lesson follows the format for the previous Ditty Group because the lesson is shorter. In Key Stage 1 groups, the lesson will also include ‘Speedy Green Words’, ‘Questions to Talk About’, a second read of the Ditty and ‘Complete a Sentence’ in addition to ‘Hold a Sentence
Green Group
The children are able to Fred Talk real and alien words and also read a range of real words speedily (no Fred Talk). Lessons involve reviewing Set 1 sounds and vocabulary containing 4+ sounds. Set 2 sounds are now taught (ay ee igh ow oo oo or ar air ir ou oy). The Story Book lesson runs over three days. The children practise the Speed Sounds and Green Words related to the Story. They also practise reading Green and Red Words (common exception) speedily. They will answer questions about the story and practise building sentences orally. They read the story three times with the focus on building intonation and fluency. In addition to ‘Hold a Sentence’ they proof read a sentence in order to correct spelling and punctuation errors. They also write simple sentences related to the Story Book. These may also be in the form of speech bubbles, lists, posters, recipes, letters or simple instructions.
Purple Group
The children are able to read most words speedily. Lesson content is the same as for the Green Group, providing children who need it with further opportunities to practise and consolidate.
Pink Group
The children are able to read ay ee igh ow oo oo speedily. They are able to Fred Talk real and alien words and also read a range of real words speedily (no Fred Talk). The Story Book lessons follow the same three-day format and reading activities as detailed for the Green Group. Writing activities also involve composing descriptive sentences, questions and responses and commands.
Orange Group
The children are able to read ar or air ir ou oy speedily. They are able to Fred Talk real and alien words and also read a range of real words speedily (no Fred Talk). Lessons continue to review Set 1 and 2 sounds. Set 3 sounds are now taught, the focus is on reading at this stage. (ea oi a-e i-e o-e u-e aw are ur er ow ai oa ew ire ear ure tion tious/cious. The Story Book lessons follow the same three-day format and reading activities as detailed for the Green Group Writing: descriptive sentences, speech and thought bubbles, short sequenced narrative, shopping list, persuasive invitation and comparative description.
Yellow Group
The children are able to read alien words and real words containing Set 1 and 2 sounds speedily (no Fred Talk). The Speed Sound lesson reviews Set 1, 2 and 3 sounds and now includes writing words containing Set 3 sounds. The Story Book lesson extends to five days. In addition to the previous activities (see green Group) the children will complete grammar and vocabulary activities and an additional proof-read with the focus on grammar. The children are taught to spell Red and Green words, culminating in a Spell Check and Spell Test at the end of the week. Grammar: verbs, apostrophe, past tense (suffixes and adjectives) prefix –un, plurals using suffixes, joining words and clauses, compound words, adjectives, nouns, past tense statements Writing: sequenced narrative, poster, writing in role, short play, advertisement, leaflet, instructions.
Blue Group
The children are able to read a-e ea i-e o-e u-e oi speedily and alien words containing other Set 3 sounds. They can read a text at 70+ words per minute The Speed Sound lesson reviews Set 2 and 3 sounds. The Story Book Lesson follows the format and activities detailed for the Yellow Group. Grammar: noun phrases, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, past and present tense, commas in lists, apostrophe (omission), compound words. Writing: newspaper report, writing in role, letter, invitation, poem, journey description, instructions, persuasive posters.
Grey Group
The children are able to read ai oa ew oi ire ear er aw ow ure are ur speedily and alien words containing these and other Set 3 sounds. They can read a text at 80+ words per minute The Story Book lesson follows the format and activities detailed for the Yellow Group. Grammar: co-ordination (or, and, but), progressive in past tense, commands, nouns, apostrophe (possessive), progressive in past and present tense, adverbs, suffixes (ful less), subordination (when if that because), adjectives, verbs, commands and statements, noun phrases. Writing: informative poster, writing in role, instructions, list, recount, fact file, questions and answers.