Phonics
At Whiston Worrygoose, phonics is the foundation of early reading and writing. As an English Hub and Little Wandle Champion School, we have access to the latest research, training, and innovations in phonics teaching, ensuring our pupils develop secure decoding skills from the very start of their education.
Phonics is at the heart of our Early Years and Key Stage 1 curriculum, supporting children to read fluently, spell accurately, and build confidence in their communication. Strong phonics teaching also underpins comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and writing, making it a vital part of our whole-school literacy provision.
For more information about our role as an English Hub and Little Wandle Champion School, please follow the links below.
INTENT
Our intent is to ensure that all pupils:
-
Develop confident decoding skills using systematic, high-quality phonics instruction.
-
Read fluently and accurately, applying their phonic knowledge across reading and writing.
-
Have access to a broad range of texts, including fiction and non-fiction, to foster a love of reading and support language development.
-
Achieve early reading success, building strong foundations for lifelong literacy and academic progress.
We believe that all children can become skilled readers and writers, and that early mastery of phonics is key to this success.
IMPLEMENTATION
Phonics is taught systematically using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds programme, ensuring a consistent approach across EYFS and KS1. Pupils receive daily, high-quality phonics teaching that is closely aligned with reading texts, spelling, and writing activities.
-
Early Years: Pupils are introduced to sounds and letters in short, focused sessions. Daily practice ensures that children quickly develop the ability to decode unfamiliar words, subitise, and recognise high-frequency words.
-
Key Stage 1: Pupils build on these foundations, practising fluency, prosody, and comprehension in guided reading and whole-class sessions.
-
Intervention and support: Pupils who need additional support receive timely, targeted interventions using the ‘Keep Up’ approach, ensuring no child is left behind.
Teaching is reinforced through purposeful reading opportunities, levelled books matched to phonics progression, and regular assessment. Staff use precise questioning and feedback to consolidate learning, challenge more able pupils, and ensure all pupils progress securely through the programme.
IMPACT
As a result of this approach, pupils at Whiston Worrygoose:
-
Read with confidence and fluency, applying phonics skills across all subjects.
-
Spell accurately and begin to internalise key word patterns, supporting their writing.
-
Develop a love of reading, motivated by texts that are carefully matched to their phonics knowledge and interests.
-
Achieve strong outcomes in reading and literacy, leaving KS1 with the skills and confidence to thrive in Key Stage 2 and beyond.
Phonics at Whiston Worrygoose ensures that children start their reading journey with success, enjoyment, and a sense of achievement, providing the foundation for all future learning.
