Having engaged in several months of research and investigation, as a staff group we've made the decision to adopt the Little Wandle approach to phonics and early reading. We are currently engaging in training and preparation to introduce the new scheme as quickly and effectively as possible.
Previously, the children have been taught phonics using the Knowledge Transfer Centre (KTC, now 'ALS') approach.
This is a systematic and consistent approach which is taught for 20 minutes every day. The children are taught new sounds, key phrases and terminology. These are then used to support reading during independent, shared and guided reading and writing lessons.
We have created our own home reading scheme from a wide selection of books. The books are colour banded and assessed (through the PM bench marking Scheme) to give finely graded steps throughout.
The children also read a wide selection of colour banded books, both fiction and non-fiction, during independent and guided reading, as well as big books for shared reading.