Phonics Curriculum Overview 

Intent

At Moreland Primary School, we are committed to ensuring every child becomes a confident, fluent reader. Our systematic and rigorous phonics programme is central to this aim. We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme to:

• Ensure consistent, high-quality teaching of phonics across EYFS and Key Stage 1.

• Secure children's phonic knowledge and word reading skills to build strong foundations for reading fluency, comprehension, and writing.

• Close the reading gap by supporting all learners, including those who may struggle, with daily practice and intervention.

• Equip children to decode confidently, spell accurately and apply their knowledge in writing.

• Foster a love of reading through structured practice and exposure to diverse, engaging books matched to phonic ability.

Implementation

• Daily phonics lessons are taught in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 using the Little Wandle progression, covering grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs), blending, segmenting, tricky words, and spelling.

• In Nursery, children develop early phonological awareness through songs, rhymes, and sound play.

• Children in KS2 who need additional phonics support receive targeted intervention using Little Wandle’s catch-up programme.

• Phonics teaching is supported by:

  • High-quality staff training to ensure consistency and fidelity to the programme.

  • Regular assessment to identify gaps and inform next steps.

  • Reading practice sessions three times a week in small groups using books matched precisely to children's secure phonics level.

  • Decodable home reading books matched to children's level.

• Phonics is embedded across the curriculum and linked to writing, spelling, and early comprehension skills.

• Parents are supported through workshops and guidance to help children practise phonics and reading at home.

• Cultural Capital & Enrichment

  • Children are immersed in a rich reading culture, building phonics confidence within a love of stories and books.

  • The phonics journey is complemented by:

    • Author visits and storytelling events that celebrate reading success.

    • Access to engaging phonically decodable books from a diverse range of genres and authors.

    • Trips to libraries and bookshops to explore books in real-world contexts.

    • Celebrations of World Book Day and reading challenges to promote early reader identity.

 Impact

The impact of our phonics programme is seen in:

• Pupils becoming fluent, confident readers by the end of Key Stage 1, prepared to access the wider curriculum.

• Strong performance in the Phonics Screening Check for most in Y1 or by the end of Y2, due to consistent teaching and early support.

• Rapid progress for children who require additional support through effective intervention.

• Confident use of phonics in writing, supporting accurate spelling and independent composition.

• Enthusiastic, motivated readers who develop early reading stamina and fluency.

• A school-wide culture where early reading is celebrated and every child is enabled to succeed.

Phonics at Moreland

We place a strong emphasis on phonics teaching from Reception to Year 2 because we believe this lays the foundations for successful reading. Teachers follow the Little Wandle Phonics scheme to deliver the learning. Phonics is taught every morning in these classes. Children are regularly assessed for progress to ensure all children are continuously taught to their individual needs. Year 2 use the Little Wandle Spelling Programme once they have completed the Phase 5 programme. Children in KS2 who did not pass their phonics screening at the end of KS1 are given additional phonics support.

All children from Reception to Year 2 take home a decodable  book appropriate to their needs to practise their reading at home with their parents and family. This also applies to children in Years 3 – 6 who need additional reading support. In Nursery, children develop pre-phonics skills (phase 1) through stories, songs, rhymes, games and activities that build skills such as sound discrimination, rhythm, rhyme, alliteration and oral blending and segmenting.

Reading

In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (where still required) we use the Little Wandle Reading Programme alongside phonics for teaching reading. Children read in ability groups 3 times a week with an adult using phonetically decodable reading books from the Little Wandle phonics scheme matched to their developing phonic knowledge. This instils good reading routines and practise from a young age and helps all children increase their enjoyment and maximise their progress in reading. In Year 2 children move onto the Little Wandle fluency books when ready to do so.

 Reading with Little Wandle Phonics

Parent Resources for Little Wandle Phonics
Follow the link to the Little Wandle website to find information and support for helping your child with phonics.