Read, Write Inc. Phonics

Our chosen programme for teaching phonics is Read Write Inc. (RWInc). This well-established and research-based scheme has a proven track record of securing excellent reading outcomes for pupils. We are committed to delivering this programme with full fidelity and continue to invest in its success through staff development. Support and coaching are provided by our school’s phonics lead teacher as needed to maintain consistency and quality in phonics teaching.

To learn more about the RWInc phonics programme, please visit: Read Write Inc. Phonics

Year 1 Phonics Screen Check

Towards the end of Year 1, children take part in a national phonics screening check, which assesses their ability to decode and blend letter sounds—a crucial foundation for fluent reading and comprehension. To prepare pupils effectively, we offer differentiated, daily synthetic phonics teaching across EYFS and KS1.

Children participate in daily speed sound sessions, building confidence in recognising and blending Set 1, 2, and 3 sounds. These are applied to both real and pseudo words, with opportunities to practise spelling, writing, and consolidating previously taught graphemes. Pupils engage with a range of fiction and non-fiction texts closely matched to their reading levels.

Phonics assessments take place every six weeks and are led by the school’s RWInc phonics lead. This ensures groupings remain fluid and responsive to pupil progress. Outcomes are monitored by both the headteacher and the governing body. Children who do not meet the expected standard in Year 1 will re-sit the screening check in Year 2. Most pupils complete the RWInc programme by the end of Year 2, although some continue into Year 3 where appropriate, depending on their individual progress.

Project X CODE (Oxford Owl)

For pupils who require additional support after completing RWInc, we offer Project X CODE, a phonics-based, small-group intervention. It is also used as a one-to-one intervention for children with specific educational needs or barriers to reading.

Project X CODE uses consistent storylines and recurring characters, allowing pupils to become fully immersed in the narrative. This high level of engagement supports both reading fluency and related writing activities. It has proven to be a valuable intervention in our school, with consistent success over the past seven years.

Fresh Start (Oxford Owl) 

For older pupils in Years 5 and 6 who still require phonics support, we use Fresh Start, a targeted intervention that mirrors the RWI structure but is adapted for more mature learners. Each module features stand-alone texts designed to interest older children while gradually building the skills needed for reading and writing.

The programme supports the development of phonics knowledge, sentence memorisation, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. Fresh Start has been successfully used in our school for over five years and played a key role in our post-Covid catch-up strategy.