At Little Waltham C.E.V.A. Primary we use the ‘Little Wandle-Letters and Sounds revised’ scheme for phonics. This is a very thorough and very rigorous programme which teaches the children the skills they need to read. All children will be working alongside peers with a similar secure phonic knowledge.

Children will also bring a book home to read aligned to what they have been learning within the phonics session in school. Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home. Listen to them read the book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them and support them to recall the word. After they have finished, talk about the book together.

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen at school for you to enjoy together. Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this book alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!