At Harwood Park, the teaching of reading is a priority, reflecting the importance of reading in accessing the curriculum and preparing children for the next stage of their education. Research shows that being able to read effectively has a positive impact on future life chances.

Reading outcomes can be improved through;

• The structured teaching of reading using a systematic, synthetic phonics program 

• Encouraging children to develop a love of books by reading to them daily, at home and at school

• Giving children access to a wide range of books at school and at home

We use Read Write Inc Phonics (RWI) to give your child the best possible start with their reading. Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. They are taught how to:

• recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes;
• identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make (special friends) - such as /sh/ or /ay/; 
• blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word; and
• recognise speedily trickier words that can not be blended.

This is the first important step in learning to read. Children who receive good teaching of phonics will learn the skills they need to tackle new words. They can then go on to read any kind of text fluently and confidently, and to read for enjoyment.

Below you will find some resources to support you and your child with phonics at home. 

Support Videos for Parents