Little Wandle Phonics
At Lenthall Infant and Nursery School, we teach phonics through a scheme called Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. This is a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP) developed for schools by schools. It is based on the original Letters and Sounds, but has been extensively revised to provide a complete teaching programme that meets all the expectations of the National Curriculum.
Phase 2 Sounds Taught in Reception Autumn 1
Phase 2 Sounds Taught in Reception Autumn 2
Phase 3 Sounds Taught in Reception Spring
How We Teach Blending
Quick Guide To Alien Words
How We Teach Tricky Words
Following on from our September Phonics Meeting for Parents and Carers. Please find below additional information regarding our phonics scheme - Little Wandle
Why Learning To Read Is So Important
- Reading is essential for all subject areas and improves life chances.
- Positive attitudes to reading and choosing to read have academic, social and emotional benefits for children.
How Children Learn To Read
- Phonics is the only route to decoding.
- Learning to say the phonic sounds.
- By blending phonic sounds to read words.
- Increasing the child’s fluency in reading sounds, words and books.
Reading Fully Decodable Books
- Children must read books consistent with their phonic knowledge.
- It is essential not to use other strategies to work out words (including guessing words, deducing meaning from pictures, grammar, context clues, or whole-word recognition).
- Books must be fully decodable and follow the Little Wandle scheme
- Children need to read books in a progressive sequence until they can decode unfamiliar words confidently.
The Role of Parents and Carers
- Have a positive impact on their child’s reading.
- Should model the importance of reading practice to develop fluency.
- Children take home books they have read at school to re-read at home to build fluency.
- There are two different types of books that pupils bring home: reading practice and books to share for pleasure.
- Reading at home encourages a love of books, along with developing vocabulary and discussion.
- Parents should use voices, expression, discuss unfamiliar vocabulary, talk about the pictures, and predict what might happen next.
- Give positive yet informative feedback in the home reading diary at least 4 times a week.
While your child will learn to read at school, you can significantly influence their reading journey by reinforcing practice at home. Your child may bring home two types of reading books:
Reading Practice Book This book is matched to your child's phonic stage and should be readable independently and fluently. If it seems easy, don’t worry! It's essential for building fluency and confidence. Listen as they read, offering praise and celebrating their successes. If they struggle with a word, feel free to read it to them. After reading, discuss the book together.
Sharing Book The sharing book is a special selection for you both to enjoy together. Your child may not be able to read it independently. It encourages a love for reading, so read it aloud or with them. Discuss the illustrations, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for characters, and explore any facts in non-fiction books. The key is to have fun!
