Woodthorpe Church of England Primary SchoolLiteracy
'It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them, and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together. Skilled word reading, taught later, involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words. Writing involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing).' Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework
Below are some examples of how we provide opportunities for our children to access and explore literacy here at Woodthorpe.
Phonics
The children's phonics journey begins as soon as they step through our doors, ensuring that they lay a strong foundation for their literacy skills. At Woodthorpe, we follow the Read Write Inc phonics scheme, which is a systematic and structured approach. By engaging with this programme, your child will learn to decode and blend sounds, which are critical for reading fluency.
In addition to the Read Write Inc scheme, we incorporate a variety of early phonics activities to make learning enjoyable and interactive. These activities not only support the structured teaching but also focus on developing vital pre phonics skills such as listening, oral blending, and segmenting. We play exciting games and explore rhymes, alongside activities that enhance auditory and visual memory. This playful approach contributes significantly to their confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
For more information about our phonics programme please follow the link -
Phonics (Curriculum - English menu tab)
Read Write Inc Parent Information
Drawing Club
Drawing Club is a true adventure and perfect for Reception and Year 1, though it can be adapted for Nursery and even as intervention in KS2. Based around the Golden Blend of picture books, tales and animations, it involves a short period of Time Together as a whole class followed by time with children exploring their ideas and creativity that can be adapted to how you believe is best. Drawing Club puts the teacher, at the centre of teaching - no scheme, no syllabus, no set texts, but freedom to adventure with the concept and bring yourself and the world of story to life. The approach supports children to explore and immerse themselves in literacy and vocabulary in an engaging and exciting way.
Books
Encouraging a love for books from an early age fosters a passion for reading. Sharing stories creates special moments and helps build a strong bond while developing essential reading skills.
We introduce a variety of authors, styles, and stories to engage all children in our setting. These carefully selected books match their interests and learning needs, making reading enjoyable and educational.
Reception Reading Spine - Link
Core Books - Youtube links
The Million Word Gap!
"Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids whose parents never read to them." Ohio State's Crane Cener for Early Childhood Research
