Reading and Phonics

At EVPS we encourage children to have a love of books. We use a range of different reading schemes, including some phonics based schemes.

Children have a daily phonics lesson from Foundation through KS1 and if necessary in early KS2. We base these lessons on the Letters and Sounds publication, ensuring children are secure in each phase before moving on to the next.

Children have opportunities to read every day and it is expected that this will also be supported at home. Guided reading is regularly carried out, enabling other important reading skills to be developed alongside phonic knowledge.

We also use Bug Club, an online reading scheme that enables pupils to answer questions about the books that they have read, thus developing their comprehension skills.

The use of reading diaries to record reading is part of the homework asked of pupils, becoming more independent as they work through the school: so that by the time they are in the upper part of KS2, they are expected to be recording their reading and their understanding of the texts they have read independently.

A Guide for Reading with Your Child

Let's Share a Book

• Choose a quiet time when you and your child can enjoy reading together.
• Find a comfortable place to read. Talk about the book, its cover and what the book may be about.
• Read with your child-read for no more than about 5-10 minutes (for a young child). Help your child if he/she gets stuck. (Testing will only cause anxiety!)
• Talk about the book, whether it was good, what has happened or what might happen next and discuss illustrations.
• Encourage your child to enjoy reading in daily life, not just their school book.
   

When Reading With Younger/Less Confident Readers:

• Encourage your child to have a go at reading - supply the word if your child gets stuck.
• Let your child talk about the pictures.
• Ask your child if he/she enjoyed the book.
• Always praise good efforts.
   

When Reading With Older/More Able Readers:

• Discuss the book e.g. what your child expects it to be like from looking at the cover etc.
• Listen to your child read, encouraging the child to have a go at reading the word (using clues such as saying the initial sound and building up the word) but supply the word if your child gets stuck.
• Try not to interrupt the flow of reading by constantly stopping.
• Always praise good efforts.
• Discuss whether you enjoyed reading the book together. Talk about why you enjoyed it.
• Please inform your child's teacher of any problems.