At Southover we teach phonics using a linguistic phonics programme called Sounds-Write. We have been using Sounds Write since 2021. Sounds Write is a highly structured, multi-sensory and instructional approach to teaching Phonics.
The structure and simplicity of the lessons makes it inclusive for all learners and allows children to make great progress with their reading and writing. Phonics lessons are delivered daily, consisting of a mixture of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic activities to promote learning
The four key concepts children are taught are:
1. letters are symbols that represent sounds
2. sounds can be spelled using 1, 2, 3 or 4 letters
3. the same sound can be spelled in different ways
4. the same spelling can represent different sounds
The three key skills children need to master are:
1. blending
2. segmenting
3. phoneme manipulation
Children in Reception begin with the initial code where they practice all three key skills whilst learning the 1:1 sound-spelling correspondences and securing their understanding of key concept 1.
This builds up confidence and phonic knowledge in a truly reversible system, enabling them to decode and encode a wide range of words and sentences. At first, children learn to read and write simple one syllable words with a CVC structure.
Complexity of word structure systematically builds up so that children apply their code knowledge to monosyllabic words with up to six sounds.
Once the initial code has been mastered, children continue to practice all three key skills whilst learning the extended code which explores key concepts 2, 3 and 4. Whilst learning the extended code, children read and write monosyllabic and polysyllabic words at an age-appropriate level.
More information about Sounds-Write can be found here and a free online that can support helping your child to read and write.