Phonics

At the Stables Independent School, each pupil is assessed and taught to read individually, with a personalised approach planned and delivered, including additional interventions where required. We use Letters and Sounds to deliver our phonics teaching, with Twinkl Phonics, Phonics Play and Reading Eggs resources to complement this. Each pupil is taught at the appropriate phase of Letters and Sounds in order to either fill gaps in or build upon their knowledge and understanding as required following assessment. Not every pupil will require phonics input.

 The following areas are taught:

• Throughout Phase 1, learners develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to discriminate between and use auditory, environmental and instrumental sounds. This also runs throughout the teaching of phonics Levels 2-6.
• Within Phases 2-4, learners are introduced to phonemes/sounds and graphemes/letters systematically. They also learn to develop and apply blending and segmenting skills for reading and writing.
• Phase 5 allows opportunities for pupils to apply their phonics knowledge and skills as the prime approach to reading and spelling. It focuses on phonetically decodable two-syllable and three-syllable words and the alternative ways of pronouncing and representing the long vowel phonemes.
• In Phase 6, pupils explore spelling patterns and grammar while also developing a breadth of knowledge, skills and understanding in the recognition and spelling of common exception words. Phase 6 is taught through Spelling sessions rather than allocated Phonics sessions.