Learning to Read: Our Phonics Journey

"Building Confident Readers at Corinthian Primary School"

At Corinthian Primary School, we believe that reading is the key to unlocking the whole curriculum. To give our children the best possible start, we use Read Write Inc. (RWI)—a high-impact, structured phonics programme that helps children become fluent, confident readers and writers.

Our Phonics Curriculum

We tailor our teaching to match each child's developmental stage:

• Early Years (Pre-Nursery, Nursery, and Reception): We begin by immersing children in a world of language through daily stories, songs, and rhymes. In Reception, children start their formal phonics journey, learning the "simple code"—one clear way to represent each sound.

• Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2): Children build on these foundations, exploring the "complex code." They learn that the same sound can be written in different ways (for example: ay as in play, a-e as in make, and ai as in rain).

What Does a Daily Lesson Look Like?

Phonics happens every day in small, focused groups. This ensures that every child is working at a level that provides just the right amount of challenge. In every session, children will:

1. Read: Recognize and say a new sound.

2. Write: Learn the correct letter formation for that sound.

3. Apply: Blend their new and old sounds together to read and spell words.

Tracking Progress

Our Phonics Lead closely monitors every child’s reading journey to ensure no one is left behind.

• Half-Termly Assessments: Every six weeks, children are assessed to check their progress. This allows us to move children between groups quickly or provide extra "catch-up" support if they have a gap in their learning.

• Phonics Screening Check: In the Summer Term, Year 1 children complete a statutory national check. If a child doesn't meet the expected standard, we provide intensive support throughout Year 2 to help them get back on track.

Working Together with Parents

You are our most important partners in this journey. We want to empower you with the tools to support your child's reading at home. Throughout the year, we host Phonics Workshops to show you exactly how we teach and how you can help.

Need more information? If you have questions about your child's progress or our reading strategy, please contact Mrs Williams, our RWI Lead, who will be happy to help.