Hello, I’m Mrs Loveday. With over 15 years of experience teaching phonics, I have seen first-hand how learning to read using phonics unlocks not just the curriculum, but the world for children.

Teaching children to read is the most important thing we do, and there is nothing more exciting than seeing them grasp it. Phonics gives children the tools they need to decode words, and they quickly recognise their own progress—building their confidence as learners.

I am passionate about ensuring that every child develops strong reading skills, setting them up for success in their education and beyond.

At St Andrew's, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics scheme to teach early reading and writing. This structured and systematic programme is introduced in Reception and continues through to Year 2, ensuring that children develop strong foundations in phonics, fluency, and comprehension.

RWI teaches children to read accurately and fluently by focusing on:

• Learning letter sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding written forms (graphemes).
• Blending sounds to read words (‘Fred Talk’).
• Segmenting words to support spelling and writing.
• Developing comprehension skills through carefully matched storybooks.

Children are assessed regularly and grouped according to their phonics ability. This allows them to receive targeted teaching at the right level, ensuring they make rapid progress. The scheme is designed to be engaging, using fun, interactive activities that build confidence and foster a love of reading.

By the end of Year 2, most children will have completed the RWI programme and will be ready to develop their reading skills further through whole-class reading and comprehension activities. For those who need additional support, interventions are provided to ensure every child becomes a confident reader.

Phonics is a key priority at St Andrew's, and we work closely with parents to support early reading at home. If you would like more information about how phonics is taught or ways to help your child, please speak to your child’s teacher.

In Year 1, all children take part in the Phonics Screening Check, a short and simple assessment designed to measure their progress in decoding words. This check helps us ensure that children are developing the phonics skills they need to become confident and fluent readers.

The check consists of real words and ‘alien words’ (nonsense words). The inclusion of alien words ensures that children are applying their phonics knowledge rather than relying on memory. This is something we regularly practise during our daily phonics sessions, so children are well-prepared and familiar with the process.

The check takes place in a calm, supportive environment with a teacher the children know. There is no pressure or expectation for children to ‘pass’—it is simply a way for us to understand their progress and identify any areas where additional support may be needed.

Parents are informed of their child's results in the summer term report, along with information about their overall progress in reading. If a child does not meet the expected standard, they will continue to receive phonics support in Year 2 and will have the opportunity to retake the check the following year.

If you have any questions about the Phonics Screening Check or how to support your child’s reading at home, please speak to their class teacher.