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English Curriculum Continuum

Visit the parent pages on the Ruth Miskin Training:

Watch phonics videos using Set 1, 2 & 3 sounds:

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Read Free e-books for home reading:

Use Oxford Owl for more help with Read Write Inc:

What is Read Write Inc?

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonics programme which helps children learn to read fluently and at speed so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling.  The programme is designed for children aged 4-7. However, we continue to support our children if they still need support in their reading.

RWI was developed by Ruth Miskin and more information on this can be found at https://ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/.

Nursery

When appropriate, children will be introduced to the initial sounds in short sessions. To begin with we learn a sound a day. We use pure sounds so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily. 

Reception

In Reception all children will learn how to ‘read’ and ‘write’ all of the sounds in Set 1 and then taught how to blend these into words. Fred the Frog helps the children to blend the sounds together. The teachers will often use the phrase ‘Fred Talk’ to sound out words. Children move to set 2 or 3 when they are ready. 

The children take part in lessons every day, progressing to reading books. They also learn how to spell red words (words that cannot be sounded out). 

Year One & Year Two

Children follow the same format as Reception and read books appropriate to their reading level.  Once children become fluent speedy readers they will move onto the Language and Literacy programme.

Speed Sounds: Set1, Set 2 and Set 3

Once your child knows all Set 1 sounds by sight and sound and uses them to blend to read words, we start teaching Set 2 initially and then Set 3 long vowel sounds. Your child will need to learn that most vowel sounds have more than one spelling.

There are 12 Set 2 ‘speed sounds’ that are made up of two or three letters which represent just one sound, e.g. ay as in play, ee as in tree and igh as in high. It is important that your child does not pronounce these as 2 or 3 separate sounds. When your child sees the ‘speed sound’ letters together in a word, they must say just one sound for these letters.

Set 1 Sounds are taught in the following order together with rhymes to help children form the letters correctly and instantly recognise sounds ready for blending.

RWI letter formation

Set 2 & 3 Sounds:

The children are then taught Set 2 Sounds – the long vowels. 

When they are very confident with all of set 1 and 2 they are taught Set 3 Sounds.

Home Reading

All children in EYFS and KS1 are given school books to read at home and there is an expectation that all pupils in EYFS, Y1 and Y2 read at home daily. Reading books are selected so that children take home blending books or reading books containing the sounds that have been taught in school. This gives the children the opportunity to embed the sounds that they have learnt and to read with fluency. Books are changed weekly. Children also have the opportunity to take home 'free reading' books from the class library throughout the week. We ask that parents continue to read stories to their children to develop a love of storytelling and learn new vocabulary.