Phonics in Early Years
At Hutchinson Memorial CE First School, we believe that learning to read is one of the most important things your child will learn in their early years. A strong start in reading opens the door to success across the whole curriculum and builds a lifelong love of books.
To make sure every child gets the very best start, we teach phonics through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, a highly effective, research-based systematic synthetic phonics programme used nationally.
How We Teach Phonics
In Reception, children take part in daily phonics lessons that follow the Little Wandle progression. This means sounds and words are taught in a structured, carefully sequenced way so that learning builds step-by-step.
Through these sessions, children learn:
- How to recognise and say sounds
- How to blend sounds together to read words
- How to segment words to help them spell
- How to read simple sentences and then short books
Lessons are fun, interactive and engaging, using songs, actions and games to help children learn and remember new sounds.
Reading Practice Sessions
Alongside phonics lessons, children take part in reading practice sessions three times a week. They read fully decodable books that match the sounds they have learned, helping them grow in:
- Fluency
- Confidence
- Understanding
These books are carefully matched to each child’s current phonics stage so they experience success every time they read.
Extra Support when Needed
If a child needs more time or practice to secure their learning, we provide Little Wandle Keep-Up sessions. These short, focused activities revisit sounds and words to help every child progress confidently.
No child is left behind.
How You Can Help at Home
Working together makes a big difference. Little Wandle provides excellent resources for parents to support reading at home:
Little Wandle Parent Links
- Information for Parents:
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/ - How We Teach Phonics (videos):
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/how-we-teach/ - Reception & Year 1 Pronunciation Guides:
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/#pronunciation - Reading Together at Home:
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/#reading-together
We share regular updates with families so you always know which sounds your child is learning and how you can support their reading journey.