Intent

At our school, phonics is a key priority and forms an essential part of our ambitious early reading curriculum. We use the Twinkl Phonics Programme to ensure that all children, from Nursery through to Key Stage 1 and beyond where needed, develop the knowledge and skills required to become confident, fluent readers and writers. The programme is carefully sequenced so that new learning builds on what children already know, enabling them to make strong and sustained progress over time. In the early years, children develop vital listening and attention skills through structured sound-based activities, laying secure foundations for future phonics learning. In Reception, children are systematically introduced to letters and sounds and are taught how to blend sounds to read words and segment sounds to spell. The curriculum allows time for practice, consolidation and assessment, recognising that children learn at different rates. As children move through Key Stage 1, they apply their phonic knowledge to increasingly complex words, explore alternative spellings and pronunciations, and learn common exception words. Our intent is to ensure that all children, including those who may need additional support, can access the curriculum, build confidence and develop a lifelong love of reading and writing.

Implementation

Phonics is taught for at least one hour every day through a structured and consistent approach, using the Twinkl Phonics Programme. Clear progression maps and tracking systems are used to monitor children’s learning and inform teaching, enabling staff to identify gaps, address misconceptions and adapt lessons to meet pupils’ needs. Teaching is explicit, systematic and teacher-led, ensuring that all children are supported to secure new knowledge before moving on. Lessons follow a clear and familiar structure, which supports engagement and helps children retain their learning. Phonics teaching is inclusive and accessible, with additional support and targeted intervention provided where needed, including into Key Stage 2 if appropriate. Staff are supported through detailed guidance and training, ensuring strong subject knowledge and consistent delivery. Parents are also encouraged to engage with their child’s learning, strengthening the partnership between home and school.

Impact

The impact of our phonics curriculum is that children make strong progress from their starting points and develop secure foundations in early reading and writing. Through a systematic, synthetic approach to phonics, children gain the skills they need to decode unfamiliar words, read with increasing fluency and spell accurately. Pupils are prepared for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check and are equipped with the confidence and strategies needed to succeed as readers beyond phonics. The consistent approach across the school ensures clarity for staff and children, supporting continuity and progression. Over time, children demonstrate increased independence, resilience and enjoyment in reading and writing, and are able to apply their phonic knowledge effectively across the wider curriculum. As a result, children know more, remember more and are ready for the next stage of their learning.