Reading and Phonics

We believe that Reading is a core skill and a key to succeeding in life. By the time children leave St Dunstan’s we aspireto them becoming competent readers who have developed a love of the written word, in all its forms. We strive to create a community of readers that share, enjoy and promote reading as a valuable skill and source of enjoyment.

Phonics at St Dunstan’s is taught using the Department of Education approved programme, Little Wandle. 

In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching starts in Reception and follows a very specific sequence that allows our children to build on their previous phonic knowledge and master specific phonic strategies as they move through school. Children are then able to tackle any unfamiliar words that they might discover. At St Dunstan’s we also model these strategies in shared reading and writing both inside and outside of the phonics lesson and across the curriculum. Additional interventions are delivered to support and meet children’s needs. 

For further  information on Little Wandle go to:  https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/