Phonics and Early Reading

At St Columba's Catholic Primary School we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised systematic, synthetic phonics (SSP) programme to teach early reading and spelling.

Phonics and Early Reading Intent

At St Columba's, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident, fluent reader. Our chosen phonics programme, Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, is delivered with consistency, rigour, and ambition for all children.

Our intent is to provide a high-quality, systematic approach to the teaching of phonics, where children learn to decode and encode words effectively through daily, structured lessons. We aim to equip all pupils with the phonetic knowledge and skills they need to read accurately, develop fluency, and foster a lifelong love of reading.

Through our implementation of Little Wandle, we intend to:

Ensure that all children make strong progress in phonics, regardless of their background or starting point.
Deliver daily, consistent phonics teaching that follows the progression of the Little Wandle programme.
Embed regular practice through reading sessions that match children’s phonics knowledge with decodable books.
Identify and support children who need additional practice, through targeted keep-up and catch-up interventions.

We believe that reading is the key to unlocking the curriculum and enabling children to thrive across all areas of learning. Our phonics provision lays the foundation for success, ensuring that every child has the tools to become a skilled, confident, and enthusiastic reader.

Phonics and Early Reading Implementation

At St Columba's, we implement Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised with fidelity, ensuring a consistent and rigorous approach across all classes. All staff receive comprehensive training to deliver high-quality phonics teaching, supported by regular coaching and monitoring to ensure excellent practice.

Phonics is taught daily in Nursery, Reception and Year 1, following the clear progression outlined in the programme. Children are introduced to new phonemes and graphemes in a carefully sequenced way, with opportunities to revisit and embed previous learning.

In addition:

Children read fully decodable books that are matched precisely to their current phonics phase, ensuring success and building fluency.
Reading practice sessions take place three times a week, focusing on decoding, prosody, and comprehension.
Assessments are carried out every 6 weeks to monitor progress and identify children who need additional support.
Keep-up sessions are provided promptly for any child who is not keeping up with the pace of the programme.
Interventions are short, targeted, and designed to close gaps quickly.

Our phonics provision extends into Year 2 through the implementation of the spelling programme and beyond for those children who require continued support, ensuring no child is left behind.

Phonics and Early Reading Impact

The impact of our phonics teaching is that children become confident, fluent readers who can access the wider curriculum and enjoy reading for pleasure and purpose.

Through the effective delivery of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, our children:

Make strong, measurable progress from their starting points.
Achieve well in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check.
Use their phonics skills confidently to decode unfamiliar words in their reading and apply them in their writing.
Develop the fluency and stamina needed for longer, more complex texts as they move through school.

The robust assessment processes allow us to quickly identify children who need additional support, ensuring that no child is left behind in their reading journey. Over time, the gap closes for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and all children are given the best possible start to their reading journey.

We know our approach is working because children talk positively about reading, are proud of their progress, and develop a real love of books.

Below are some videos and resources which you may find useful. For more information visit the Little Wandle Website.

For Parents | Letters and Sounds

//www.youtube.com/embed/-ZtjFIvA_fs#t=0.5

//www.youtube.com/embed/qDu3JAjf-U0#t=0.5

//www.youtube.com/embed/DvOuc7cWXxc#t=0.5