PHONICS AND READING
At Thanet Primary we are all readers!
At Thanet we are all readers! We take the children on a journey in nursery, where they enjoy stories and learn to identify print, to an end point where our pupils read actively and confidently. Through rigorous phonic teaching, we aim to crack the phonic code and ensure our pupils become good word readers and, through quality texts, we build vocabulary to aid comprehension. We aim to build a seamless transfer of skills from learning to read to reading to learn. Threaded throughout each year group in school is a desire that all children learn to love reading and read for pleasure. We aspire for all pupils to leave us reading widely for pleasure and information.
Reading at Thanet
At Thanet Primary, reading is the heartbeat of our curriculum. We aim to transform every child into a confident, fluent reader who possesses the foundational knowledge and expertise required for the next stage of their education. Our reading journey follows a clear chronological progression, ensuring that skills are appropriately sequenced to build on prior learning.
The Early Years: Foundations of Sound (Nursery & FS2)
The journey begins in Nursery, where we prioritize environmental sound awareness and rhyming skills. As children move into Reception, there is a "sharp focus" on acquiring a wide vocabulary and securing phonics knowledge. By the end of the Early Years, our goal is for children to use their phonics to read accurately and with increasing fluency.
Key Stage 1: Mastering the Code
Phonics is taught discreetly from FS2 to Year 2 through the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme. This structured, rigorous approach is built on the "5 P’s":
• Praise: Learning in a positive environment.
• Pace: Brisk lessons to keep children focused.
• Purpose: Clear links between activities, reading, and comprehension.
• Passion: Teachers bring energy and enthusiasm to every session.
• Participation: Active partner work ensures every child is engaged.
To ensure success in FS1 and KS1, children take home reading books that are closely matched to their individual phonics knowledge. QR codes are shared with families to support parents and strengthen home learning. Our phonics leader ensures regular coaching takes place so that all practitioners remain consistently focused on the phonics scheme.
The phonics team provides targeted tutoring for any child who falls behind, alongside regular tracking to clearly identify individual barriers to mastering phonics. Children are assessed frequently, with groups remaining fluid and lessons regularly observed to ensure high-quality provision for all learners.
Targeted Phonics Support in Key Stage 2
Fluency intervention is also tracked across KS2 to increase reading accuracy and speed.
The Fresh Start programme is implemented across Key Stage 2 (Y4 up) for any children who continue to require support with phonics. Teachers carefully identify and address key gaps in learning, using daily flashcard practice to secure sound recognition and recall.
Pupils then take part in bespoke, daily phonics sessions tailored to their individual needs. Progress is closely tracked to ensure rapid catch-up and sustained improvement.
Key Stage 2: From Fluency to Deep Comprehension
Once the phonics code is securely mastered, the focus shifts toward fluency and comprehension through bespoke sessions.
The Weekly Journey
We follow a structured weekly "road map" to ensure all reading domains are mastered:
• Monday (Fluency): Children explore vocabulary using actions and flashcards, followed by a one-minute fluency challenge to build pace and expression.
• Tuesday (Vocabulary): A focus on words in context, synonyms, antonyms, and using dictionaries to clarify meanings.
• Wednesday (Retrieval): Using "fastest finger first" activities to locate explicit evidence within a text.
• Thursday (Inference): Drawing inferences about characters' feelings, thoughts, and motives, justified with evidence.
• Friday (Application): Mixed domain review and SATs-style questions to apply the week's learning to unseen text.
Our Passion for a Reading Culture
We believe reading should be available at every corner of our school. We are dedicated to creating a culture that enthuses every child:
• Reading Environments:
Our Reading Shed during OPAL play and our Reading Vending Machine ensure high-quality books are always accessible.
Our inviting bookshelves encourage children to pick up a book at any time of the day.
• Inspiring Events: Events like Poetry Slam have been organised to develop a passion for performance and creative writing. From National Storytelling Week to World Book Day, our calendar is full of events that celebrate the joy of stories, our Reading lead updates these monthly.
• Author Visits: Real-life authors and poets visit to perform their work and lead workshops, inspiring our pupils to find their own voices
• Student Leadership: Our Reading Ambassadors champion reading events and help organize competitions across the school.
• Library Links: Our partnership with the Library Service ensures a rich and engaging "reading diet" for all classes. This is regularly changed, matching books to their interests.
Celebrating Progress: The Golden Balloon
We want our community to see how proud we are of our readers. We use Reading Records to track commitment throughout the term. Children who demonstrate consistent dedication to reading are rewarded with a Golden Balloon. There is no prouder moment than seeing our pupils walk out of the school gates with their balloons, raising the reading profile across the entire estate.
Commitment to Inclusion
We hold the same high expectations for every child, including those with SEND or those who are disadvantaged We adapt our strategies to reduce cognitive load, ensuring the curriculum remains accessible and challenging for everyone.
