In reception and year 1, children follow the progression within Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Phonics is taught daily and there is a review session on a Friday. Phonics starts in reception in week 2 to ensure the children make a strong start. By the end of reception, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 4. By the end of year 1, children will have been taught up to the end of phase 5. Reception lessons start at 10 minutes, with daily additional oral blending – increasing to 30 minutes as soon as possible and continuing in year 1. From year 2 onwards, where appropriate, children are taught phonics through the Little Wandle Rapid Catch Up programme. This is to address specific gaps in their phonic knowledge, enabling them to become fluent and confident readers. 

How we assess phonic knowledge at APPS?

• 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 by the class teacher’s ongoing formative assessment).
• Children identified in reception and year 1 as in danger of falling behind are immediately identified and daily ‘keep up’ sessions are put in place – sessions follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme.
• In reception and year 1, the children are assessed at the end of every half-term using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised assessment tracker.
• The children in year 1 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.
• Children who are in year 2-6 and need rapid catch up sessions are assessed through teacher’s ongoing formative assessment as well as half termly summative assessments.

Little Wandle introduction, delivered by Miss Cordery- Phonics and Early Reading Lead