At Chad Vale we combine the highest quality phonics and reading schemes available to tailor make a programme that is effective for learners of all ages and abilities.

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After children have settled in with us in Reception, they are assessed to determine their individual starting points. Doing this enables practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of how these pupils segment phonically regular words in order to spell, and blend sounds to be able to read accurately.

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In EYFS, these vital skills are then developed through daily differentiated sessions using the DfE created ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme. In addition to this, synthesis and blending skills are also modelled through small group weekly guided reading sessions. Within these, children use books from the Pearson Bug Club Reading Scheme to focus specifically on those diagraphs and trigraphs that have been introduced in previous Letters and Sounds sessions. This provides an opportunity for contextual diversity, as well as consolidating individual pupil’s recognition of these taught letter combinations.

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Currently in Year 1 we are using the KRM programme from Optima Reading to build on those phonic skills developed in Reception. This predominantly allows exposure to diagraphs and trigraphs from Phase 5 of Letters and Sounds, but these are taught in a more structured and rigorous manner using a whole class teaching format.

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To provide continuity from Reception, guided reading sessions are taught using books taken from the Bug Club reading programme. Again, these are linked directly to the letter combinations that each group of pupils are becoming familiar with within the KRM reading sessions.

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The majority of children are decoding fluently and confidently on arrival into Year 2, so guided reading sessions focus on the development of comprehension skills to enable pupils to access literature across the curriculum. To ensure that high quality books which engage all readers are available, we draw together titles from across a range of reading schemes including ORT and Collins Big Cat. In doing this, we are providing exposure to both fiction and non-fiction titles that are laid-out in a variety of ways.

Those pupils that may still need extra support with their phonic skills are taught in small groups, using the KRM programme that they are familiar with from Year 1.