Phonics & Early Reading
At Silver Tree Primary School, we recognise the crucial importance of studying the English language. Improved performance in speaking and listening, reading and writing will enable our pupils to express their thoughts and ideas more fluently, to engage more successfully with other curriculum subjects and will ultimately enrich their lives beyond school. The teaching and learning of language skills are, therefore, given a high priority in our school.
We have high expectations for our pupils and we encourage them to become independent learners who strive to be confident in all areas of English. Our overarching aim is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature.
Phonics
At Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery we recognise the importance of early reading and aim to create an inclusive, inspired and challenging curriculum which develops children’s knowledge of phonics, enabling them to become successful readers who develop a life-long love of reading.
We aim to give children the best possible start to their reading and writing journey by teaching them the essential phonological skills and knowledge to decode and encode words independently from the outset. We recognise that the development of spoken language and the enjoyment and comprehension of quality literature go hand in hand to develop a life-long love of reading and aim to nurture and develop these attributes alongside the phonics programme.
At Silver Tree Primary School and Nursery we teach Phonics using a DfE validated Systematic synthetic phonics programme called ‘Success For All Phonics’.
FFT's Success for All Phonics is an ambitious, fast-paced phonics programme designed to equip learners with essential early reading and writing skills. We have chosen this systematic synthetic phonics scheme due to its tried and tested efficacy in enhancing literacy outcomes for children.
The programme focuses on developing key early reading skills, including decoding, fluency, and comprehension. Through structured lessons, children engage with phonemes and graphemes in a systematic manner, allowing them to decode words and develop a strong foundation in reading. This approach not only fosters fluency but also encourages a deeper understanding of texts, which is vital for lifelong reading comprehension.
In addition to reading, Success for All Phonics addresses early writing knowledge and skills. Children are guided through the writing process, enabling them to apply their phonetic understanding in constructing words and sentences. This holistic approach ensures that learners are not merely passive consumers of text but are also active participants in the writing process.
Ultimately, our commitment to using FFT's Success for All Phonics reflects our desire to provide a rigorous and supportive learning environment, empowering students to thrive in their educational journeys.