Phonics
We are now using one of the DFE's newly validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics Programmes (SSP) to deliver phonics in school.
'Little Wandle'
Phonics is taught daily across EYFS and KS1 and incorporated into lesson time and intervention sessions for KS2.
Reading is supported through fluency texts sent home, as well as resources for reading from our reading scheme and a library book for enjoyment.
Phonics is key to learning to read from an early stage and so is integral to all we do in school.
Phonics Intent Statement:
At Wragby Primary we are passionate about ensuring all children become enthusiastic life-long readers and writers. Phonics provides the foundations of learning to make the transition into fluent reading and writing easier. Phonics is the process that is used to help children break down words into sounds, as well as building letter and word recognition. This can then enable children to read unfamiliar words in the future. At Wragby we are intent on making Phonics a high priority. Our aim is to ensure all children learn to read and write through consistent, high quality Phonics lessons.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
At Wragby Primary School, we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as our systematic phonics programme. This programme is fully aligned with the DfE’s Reading Framework and supports children to become confident, fluent readers and writers.
What is Little Wandle Letters and Sounds?
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is a complete phonics programme designed to teach children to read and write through daily, structured phonics lessons. It builds children’s knowledge of letters and sounds step by step and teaches them how to blend sounds to read words and segment sounds to spell.
The programme is:
- Systematic and progressive
- Fully decodable, so books closely match the sounds children know
- Designed to support all learners, including those who may need extra practice
How we teach phonics
Phonics is taught daily in short, focused lessons from the start of Reception. Children learn:
- To recognise sounds (phonemes)
- To match sounds to letters or groups of letters (graphemes)
- To blend sounds together to read words
- To segment words into sounds to help with spelling
Lessons are carefully structured and include opportunities to revisit, practise and apply learning. Children are encouraged to use correct pronunciation and are supported to build fluency and confidence.
Reading practice and books
Children read fully decodable reading books that are carefully matched to the sounds they have been taught in phonics lessons. This ensures that children can practise reading successfully and develop confidence.
Reading practice sessions take place three times a week and focus on:
- Decoding (reading the words)
- Prosody (reading with expression)
- Comprehension (understanding what has been read)
Children will also bring books home to share with parents and carers.
Supporting children who need extra help
Some children may need additional support to keep up with the pace of the programme. Trained staff run Keep Up sessions or 1:1 intervention to ensure that all children are given the help they need to succeed and make progress.
How parents and carers can help at home
We encourage parents and carers to:
- Read regularly with their child
- Encourage children to sound out words using phonics
- Complete the Little Wandle homework each week
- Praise effort and celebrate progress
- Use the correct pronunciation of sounds (guidance can be found on the Little Wandle website)
We value the partnership between home and school and appreciate your support in helping children develop a love of reading.
If you would like to know more
If you would like further information about Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised or how phonics is taught at our school, please speak to your child’s class teacher or arrange to speak to Mrs Bland, Phonics/Early Reading Lead.
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Programme-Overview Reception-and-Year-1 June-2025 (4) | [pdf 604KB] |
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How should I help my child read at home?
Encourage your child to:
- Sound out unfamiliar words using phonics
- Blend sounds together smoothly
- Read the same book more than once to build fluency
- Talk about the story to support understanding
Using the correct pronunciation of sounds is really helpful — Little Wandle provide videos to support this.
Where can I find official Little Wandle support and videos?
Little Wandle provide a range of parent-friendly videos and resources designed to help you support your child’s phonics and reading at home. These can be found on the official Little Wandle for Parents page: Little Wandle
What if my child is finding phonics difficult?
Some children need a little extra time and practice. We provide additional support and intervention sessions to help children keep up. If you have concerns, please speak to your child’s class teacher.
Will phonics help with spelling and writing?
Yes. Phonics teaches children how to break words into sounds, which supports early spelling and writing. Children are encouraged to use their phonics knowledge when writing words independently.
How long will my child learn phonics for?
Children continue learning phonics until they can read fluently and have a secure understanding of spelling patterns — typically through Key Stage 1.