Intent

At Bawnmore, we know that strong phonics teaching provides the foundation for fluent reading and confident writing. Our phonics curriculum is designed to ensure that every child secures the phonic knowledge they need to read and spell with confidence. We aim for children to develop both accuracy and automaticity, allowing them to decode, blend, segment and manipulate sounds effectively.

Implementation

• Phonics is taught daily using the Floppy’s Phonics systematic synthetic phonics programme.
• Children receive discrete, high-quality phonics teaching from Reception through to Year 2, with clear progression across the phases.
• Phonics lessons are interactive, multisensory and engaging, using a range of resources including flashcards, digital tools, word cards and whiteboard activities.
• Phonics games and application opportunities are embedded into continuous provision in Reception and Year 1 to reinforce learning.
• Phonics teaching is closely matched to individual children’s stage of development, with frequent assessment to identify gaps and inform timely interventions.
• Children are provided with fully decodable reading books that align with their phonics level, allowing them to practise decoding skills independently.
• As children progress through Year 2, phonics teaching is supplemented by explicit teaching of spelling patterns, suffixes and rules, supported by Spelling Shed.
• Regular home-school links ensure that parents are supported in understanding phonics and practising key skills at home.

Impact

By the end of Key Stage 1, children:

• Have secure phonic knowledge and can confidently decode unfamiliar words.
• Apply phonic skills accurately when reading and writing.
• Develop fluency and automaticity in reading.
• Are well-prepared for the reading demands of the Key Stage 2 curriculum.

SEND and Inclusion

• Children with additional needs are identified early and supported through high-quality interventions and adapted teaching.
• Pre-teaching of key vocabulary and texts supports access to whole-class reading sessions.
• Targeted reading interventions, including 1:1 and small group work, focus on inference, comprehension and decoding as appropriate.
• Phonics interventions are delivered to address gaps quickly and ensure all children keep up, not catch up.
• Tasks are scaffolded with appropriate support such as word banks, writing frames, and adult support to promote success.