Phonics

The goal of phonics instruction is to teach students the most common sound-spelling relationships so that they can decode, or sound out words. This decoding ability is a crucial element in reading success. Below are some videos showing parents how to say the 'pure' phonics sounds - this is useful to make sure that when you are helping your child you are also reinforcing the methods used at school.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

The phonics screening check is taken individually by all children in Year 1 in England, and is usually taken in June. There are two sections in this 40-word check and it assesses phonics skills and knowledge learned through Reception and Year 1. Your child will read up to four words per page for their teacher and they will probably do the check in one sitting of about 5–10 minutes.

Pseudo words are included in the check specifically to assess whether your child can decode a word using phonics skills and not their memory. Pseudo words are phonically decodable but are not actual words with an associated meaning e.g. brip, snorb. 

Vocabulary

Acquisition and command of vocabulary are key to your child's learning and progress across the whole curriculum. Parents can support their child's store of words in general while making links between known and new vocabulary and discuss the shades of meaning in similar words. Your child can then expand their vocabulary choices that are available to them when they write. 

In order for your child to improve their comprehension, it's also vital that they understand the meanings of words they meet in their reading across all subjects.

Reading for Pleasure

Reading for pleasure has been defined by the National Literacy Trust as, “reading that we do of our own free will, anticipating the satisfaction that we will get from the act of reading."

Parents and the home environment are essential to the early teaching of reading and fostering a love of reading; children are more likely to continue to be readers in homes where books and reading are valued. Children need to exposed to real life books that are rich in language. Taking your child to the library encourages them to form a life-long love of reading.