Reading & Phonics at Holt House

⦁ Individual reading – one adult reading with one child
⦁ Guided reading – one adult reading with a group where everyone has the same book
⦁ Shared reading – one adult reading one big text large enough for everyone to see with a class
⦁ Independent reading
⦁ Story time with their teacher

Children are encouraged and expected to read and enjoy books at home. When children need extra support we provide additional reading in school.

Phonics

Synthetic phonics is learning about sounds and then synthesizing them together to make words. Learning phonics is the main way in which we teach children to read. At Holt House we use 'Read Write Inc. Phonics’:

https://www.ruthmiskin.com/programmes/phonics/

Most children are able to learn to read by learning phonics. A few children find this tricky, but are helped to catch up quickly with one of our reading support programmes. If there are any concerns about a child’s reading, parents and carers will be informed and our special needs co-ordinator, may get involved. Phonics is taught progressively, in a fun way that everyone can enjoy.  Children are provided with phonetically decodable books to help them read independently.

My Phonics Book

When children start on their reading journey they will begin by having the early ‘Sound Blending Books’, which contain single-letter sounds that they are learning in school.  Once they can read all of the Set 1 single-letter sounds speedily, they will move on to a ‘Read Write Inc. Ditty Storybook’.  Having learnt all of the Set 1 sounds (including ‘special friends’, which contain double-letters), they will be ready to move on to a personalised ‘Read Write Inc. Storybook’ that they can read because it matches the sounds they have been taught in school.  It should be read and practised several times so that it can be read easily, without sounding out. This book should be brought to school with the children every day.

Developing Readers

Your child’s teacher will choose a Phonics decodable reading book (a ‘Book Bag Book’) for them to take home to read to their parents or carers.  This links to the story they have read in class and your child’s reading development.  This should also be read and practised several times so that it can be read easily, without sounding out.

Confident Readers
Children who have secure phonics knowledge, can read the first 100 High Frequency Words (HFW) and are confident readers transfer to the ‘book band’ approach. This gives them the opportunity to read from a range of books at each stage, so that they can read widely and develop their comprehension skills.  Children are supported in choosing a book that they would like to take home from their colour band, so that they develop the skill of selecting their own book. It is changed after the weekly group guided reading session with the teacher. 

Reading for Pleasure
Children can take home a picture fiction book each week for story time with their parents or carers.  This ‘story time book’ is not linked a child’s reading development.  This book is just for pleasure and may be read to a child by their parents or carers.  

Recommended Books