Phonics

What is Phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language.

At Swaffield School, we are following the Little Wandle (Letters and Sounds) Programme.  Phonics is taught every day in Reception to Year 2 as a 20 minute fast pace lesson. 

These are useful websites to support with reading at home:

• Information for Parents: 
  https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/- information for parents Little Wandle
• How to Pronounce Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkXcabDUg7Q 
• Split Digraphs/Complex Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYiOcqyEs8 

Swaffield Phonics Workshop

• You can see the presentation from our phonics workshop for parents here. 
• In addition, here is the presentation from our phonics screening workshop.

Key Vocabulary in Phonics

Phoneme – smallest unit of sound e.g j o g

Grapheme – written symbol and the letters

Blending (supports reading) – putting sounds together / start with oral blending – robot hands

Segmenting (supports with writing) - splitting sounds e.g h-o-p, ch-i-p

Useful Documents for parents

Sound card - view/download a copy here

Phase 2 - 5 sound mat poster - view/download a copy here 

Pronunciation Guide Autumn 1 - view/download a copy here

Pronunciation Guide Autumn 2 - view/download a copy here

How Can You Help Your Child at Home?

• Go through the sound card every day - download a copy here
• Read with your child for 10 minutes
• Play Phonics games e.g blending and segmenting. Here are some useful websites for this:

Phonics Play - https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ 

Phonic Bloom - https://www.phonicsbloom.com/ 

Topmarks - https://www.topmarks.co.uk/english-games/5-7-years/letters-and-sounds