Phonics & Reading
Phonics and Reading at Stanhope
At Stanhope, we believe that developing strong reading skills is the foundation for all learning. Our phonics program follows the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised framework, ensuring that every child receives high-quality, systematic phonics instruction.
Why Phonics?
Phonics is the method of teaching children to read and write by focusing on the sounds of the letters and combinations of letters. Through phonics, children learn how to decode words by blending sounds and segment them for spelling. This approach helps build the essential skills needed to read fluently and with confidence.
Little Wandle at Stanhope
We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised program because of its proven success in helping children become confident and fluent readers. This structured and consistent phonics scheme provides clear progression and systematic teaching, starting from the basics and building up to more complex phonetic patterns.
Our children begin learning phonics from the very first term of their Reception year. Through engaging lessons and daily practice, they develop the skills to decode and read simple words. As they progress, they build a more sophisticated understanding of language and are introduced to complex phonemes and tricky words.
A Focus on Fluency
Once children have mastered the basics of phonics, our focus shifts to developing fluency and reading for meaning. Children at Stanhope are given regular opportunities to apply their phonics skills through carefully chosen, decodable books that are linked to the phonics skills they are learning. This ensures they can practice and consolidate what they have learned in a meaningful way.
Reading in Our Ofsted Report
Our latest Ofsted report highlights the strong focus on reading at Stanhope, noting that “the school has a strong focus on reading and nurtures a love of books. Staff have the skills and expertise to teach phonics effectively. From the start of Reception, children learn to read using phonics. The school ensures that all pupils have books that match the sounds they know. Those pupils who struggle with reading receive timely support, including pupils in older year groups who arrive at the school at very early stages of speaking English as an additional language. Pupils are given regular reading time to help them become confident and fluent readers. The school ensures that pupils enjoy a considerable choice of different texts, and pupils proudly earn coloured ribbons for reading different quantities of books.”
Supporting Reading at Home
We believe that reading is a partnership between home and school. We encourage parents and carers to support their child's learning by listening to them read regularly and practicing phonics skills at home. We provide home learning materials, including decodable books and resources, to support this journey.
At Stanhope, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident, enthusiastic reader, equipped with the phonics skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.