Read Write Inc

At St Oswald's Church of England Academy we use the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their English. RWI is a method of learning centred round letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing.

Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows helps to improve their spelling so that they can put all of their energy into composing what they write.

When using RWI to read the children will:

  • learn that sounds are represented by written letters

  • learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts

  • learn how to blend sounds

  • learn to read words using Fred Talk

  • read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out

  • show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions

When using RWI to write the children will:

  • learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds

  • learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk

  • write simple sentences

The phonics manager is Mrs Oades. If you have any queries or would like to discuss our phonics programme further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Phonics from the Beginning of Reception

Phonics is taught from the very beginning of Foundation Stage 2. If children are ready, some of the sounds are taught from the Summer term of Foundation Stage 1. We believe that a strong start in Reception has a big impact on children’s progress and confidence in reading. By the end of the Foundation Stage, we want children to be able to read all of the Set 1 and Set 2 sounds in words. Children are identified from an the beginning if they are falling behind. 

 

Phonetically Decodable Books

From Foundation Stage 1, library books are sent home with children. Their focus is language acquisition and listening to stories being read to them. As children begin Read, Write, Inc, children are sent home with sound cards to practise their sounds. When they are secure with their understanding of sounds, children will be given virtual links for games to practise their oral blending. Following this, children will be sent home with sound blending books. When children move into the Ditty group, they will take a perfectly matched phonetically decodable book home with them. This continues, until children have moved securely off the programme. As well as a phonically, decodable book, children will take a library book home with them. This is to encourage parents to read to their children and develop their vocabulary. Books are changed weekly, so children have time to practise their phonics sounds, as well as building their fluency. If children struggle with their fluency, there are extra fluency links that can be sent home to support children, as well as classroom interventions.

 

Staff are Early Reading Experts

Most staff at St Oswald's, from nursery to KS2, have been trained in RWI phonics. The reading leader attends half termly training sessions to ensure that she is aware of any updates. This is then relayed back to staff in school. All staff have access to the virtual classroom, where they have a large range of training videos for each aspect of phonics. The Reading Leader directs staff to training videos and staff are given time to watch them. In addition to this, the Reading Leader holds training sessions monthly for reading staff. St Oswald's partake in a RWI Development Day, where a RWI expert visits the lessons and offers bespoke training.