Phonics and early reading

Read Write Inc (RWI)

At Lapage Primary School, we use the RWI programme to get children off to a good start with their reading. RWI is a method of learning which has a focus on letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to support children in their reading and writing.

‘Every child has the right to read because without being able to read children have absolutely no access into their education.’ (Ruth Miskin, Creator of RWI)

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot and widely will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn quickly and effectively . The more a child learns, the more he/she will want to find out. Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.

Why do we use RWI?

The RWI programme has been proven to be a very successful method of teaching every child to read and write using phonics. Evidence of this can be found in the Ofsted Report, Reading by six: how the best schools do it.

Who follows the programme?

All children in EYFS and in Year 1 follow the programme. They are assessed and are put into groups and given the appropriate RW1 reading and reading books to follow. Children are taken off the programme when they have completed Grey books. Some children continue RWI in Year Two and subsequent years.

What do children learn in RWI?

The children:
  1. learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letters/ letter groups using simple picture prompts

  2. read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out.
  3. show that they comprehend the stories by answering ‘Find it’ and ‘Prove it’ discussion questions

The Children are assessed so they work with children at the same level. This allows them to take a full part in all lessons.

They work in pairs so that they:
  1. answer every question
  2. practise every activity with their partner
  3. take turns in talking to each other.

Where can I find out more about RWI?

The official Read Write Inc website, www.oup.com provides all the information you need to support your child through the programme. The sounds taught are pure sounds and may be different to how you would say them or how you were taught. To avoid confusing the children the RWI website does go through the correct pronunciation of each sound.

www.oup.com has loads of information.

www.oxfordowl.co.uk is FREE and will help your child learn to read and love to read! There are over 100 free ebooks to enjoy with your child and there is a phonic guide which will help you with saying the sounds correctly.

We use the highly successful Read Write Inc. Phonics programme to teach our children to read. Our children do very well in the Phonic Screening Check and by Year 2, the majority are fluent readers with the best chance of success in the KS1 tests.

To visit the parent pages on the Ruth Miskin Training website go to: www.ruthmiskin.com

Resources for Reading at Home

Early Years and Key Stage 1:

Your child takes home a Phonics reading book they can read and a library book to share together.

Key Stage 2:

Your child takes home a book they can read independently and a library book to share together.

Extra Reading Links

Book Trust

Laisterdyke Library

Oxford Owl

Purple Mash

Words for Life

How we teach reading at Lapage