Consolidating Phonics Practice

Every Reception and Year 1 class has a few children for whom daily phonics isn't enough. Some know only a handful of sounds. Others know plenty but stall when it's time to blend, or manage short words and freeze at longer ones. Each group needs something different, and the sooner you know who is where, the more time you have to help.

You'll set up a pattern of shorter half-termly checks and fuller termly ones, then use the results to group children by what they need next. From there it's about small-group and one-to-one intervention led by your strongest phonics staff. The children who need it most should read with an adult every day, and parents can help at home.

There's practical preparation for the Year 1 phonics screening check, and ideas for children who need to resit it in Year 2.