Early Reading & Phonics

Early Reading

Learning to read (and write) is a complex social and cultural activity. Over time, young children learn to create and understand meanings from pictures, symbols, words and eventually print. They gradually develop early reading through their talk, internal speech, symbolic play and early writing.

Reading books and stories with babies and children is important for language and literacy development. Shared book reading is a perfect opportunity to develop knowledge about the world, empathy and shared understandings. Creating warm and shared meaningful experiences with books from the earliest age matters. Even the youngest babies can engage joyfully and purposefully in shared reading, at home and in early care and education settings.

There are many ways you can help your child to develop their engagement and understanding:

• Allow pauses for your child's thinking time as they consider their responses to pictures and the words
• Use actions, vary your volume and intonation to emphasise meaning and use different voices for different characters - encourage your child to join in with you
• Listen carefully to your child's responses, acknowledge and value all their comments and tune into their line of thinking
• Try to use prompts such as ‘I wonder why/what’ rather than asking closed questions (questions that have yes or no answers)
• Allow your child to return to pages and pictures they are interested in so they can explore ideas in depth
• Sharing books does not have to be quiet or a seated experience - provide opportunities to explore and act out texts in active ways, both indoors and outdoors
• Provide opportunities and resources for your child to revisit and explore favourite stories alone and with their friends, using props, toys and puppets

Read Write Inc. Phonics

At Buckingham Park Primary School, we use the RWI. Phonics, and like all phonics schemes, it teaches our  children the sounds in English, the letters that represents the sound, and how to form the letters when writing. 

Our children are given RWI. Phonics reading books, which are written using only the letters and sounds the individual child has learnt, and a small number of separately taught tricky words. This helps the child quickly feel confident and successful when reading.

For more information about RWI. Phonics and how you can support your child's early reading at home, please click here. You will also find lots of free resources to support your child at home.