We are a school that uses a structured literacy approach. This means we teaching reading and spelling together following a specific scope and sequence using an explict approach to teaching.
When children start school, we allow them time to settle in and feel safe. We like to meet them where they are at and according to their individual needs.
Once children feel safe and connected, we will work with them through a series of developmental goals, designed to prepare their learning brain.
It is very normal for a child to not be ready to start more formal reading/spelling until six or later. We are still working on oral language and phonological awareness in the meantime.
Once through these goals children will start more formal literacy with us, learning the sounds in sequence and developing their sound to symbol and symbol to sound undertandings. Gradually they will learn to read words, short sentences and then start reading decodable books.
Decodable books mean that children are using the sounds they know to read the story, not guessing based on the picture or the first letter of the word.
We guide children through important skills, like letter formation, letter sound, letter name, spelling and reading words with these sounds and learning heart words (irregular spelling) that they will need for their stage.
We teach children to map the sounds in words, so that they can start developing their bank of words they can read fluently.
What we do is based on the Science of Reading. It builds the foundations for readers, so that later they can work on using reading for learning.
The parts of reading and becoming a skilled reader are explained in this diagram.
The way we teach reading means that children progress through stages, these do not correlate to ages at all and this is not a way that assessment data can be presented to you. Each stage sets out crucial sound and word development that we want children to gain fluency in.
We can however report to you on strengths, progress and next steps. We also can feed back to you on how you can help at home as home support is crucial for all children.
As with everything, practice makes progress!
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