Phonics

Phonics Lead - Mrs L Conway & Mrs C Hudson               

At Lowerplace Primary School, phonics is taught using the very exciting and engaging phonics programme ‘Supersonic Phonic Friends‘. Supersonic Phonics Friends is a systematic, synthetic programme which supports children in developing their early speaking and listening skills and early reading and writing skills in a fun and practical way. The programme uses friendly woodland characters who represent each literacy skill involved in supporting children’s development in the five key areas of phonics. This approach ensures that we have absolute consistency in our phonics lessons and that children practise the five key skills daily through the help of their Supersonic Phonic Friends.

How we teach phonics

Phonics is taught daily in EYFS and KS1.  It has a clear structure and follows the model of Revisit & Review, Teach, Practise and Apply.

• Reception children have 20 minute sessions daily with a re-cap lesson at the end of every week.
• KS1 children have 30 minute sessions daily with a re-cap lesson at the end of every week.

To support the teaching of phonics in EYFS and KS1 we use the Supersonic Phonic Friends Progression document which highlights how children should be progressing through each of the phonic phases. 

Supersonic Phonic Friends Phonic Progression Document

Below you will find a more specific progression to show what each year group should be covering through each term of the year.

Lowerplace Phonics Progression

In EYFS, children learn:

• To develop their listening and speaking skills further through the Firm Foundations of phonics one.
• To recognise one spelling for the 44 different sounds in the English language.
• To read words and sentences.
• To write words and sentences.
• To be able to read and write tricky words.

    

In KS1, children learn:

• Alternative spellings and pronunciations for the 44 sounds they already know.
• Spelling Rules such as: prefixes and suffixes.
• To read with speed Common Exception words which help to build their fluency when reading.  

How to pronounce the sounds

Below you will find videos of our children showing you how to pronounce all of the basics 2 and basics 3 sounds. 

How we assess phonics

In Reception and Year 1, at the end of each week there is a review session which recaps the learning. There are also whole review weeks (pre-planned and bespoke review weeks to address gaps identified through the class teacher’s ongoing formative assessment).

Children identified in Reception and Year 1 as being in danger of falling behind are immediately identified and daily ‘keep up’ sessions are put in place – sessions follow the Supersonic Phonic Friends Supporting Document.

In Reception and Year 1, the children are assessed at the end of every half term using our phonics assessment tracker.

Year 1 children sit the Phonics Screening Check in the summer term.

Children who do not pass the Phonics Screening Check in Year 1, will re-sit this in Year 2.

Year 3 children who do not pass the phonics re- sit in Year 2 or still require phonics teaching will take part in regular phonics intervention at least 3 times a week. 

Children who are in Year 2-Year 6 and need ‘catch up’ sessions are assessed through teacher’s ongoing formative assessment as well as half termly summative assessments. These children in KS2 will receive phonics interventions to further support their understanding of phonics to help them to decode and read fluently.

Once children are fluent using their phonics to help them decode to read, they move onto specific spelling lessons that teach different spelling patterns and rules.