Learning to Read at Thringstone
Learning to read is one of the most important things children do at primary school. At Thringstone, we want every child to become a confident, fluent reader who enjoys books and develops a lifelong love of reading.
Our reading curriculum reflects our curriculum drivers of Communication and Culture. Through high-quality texts, children develop the vocabulary, knowledge and confidence to communicate effectively while discovering different people, places, cultures and experiences beyond their own.
Reading begins from the very start of Reception and remains a priority throughout every year of school.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
We teach early reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, a systematic synthetic phonics programme used by thousands of schools across England.
From the second week of Reception, children take part in a daily phonics lesson where they learn new sounds, practise blending words and develop confidence as readers and writers.
Lessons are carefully sequenced so that knowledge builds step by step, helping children make strong progress.
Supporting Phonics at Home
We know many parents like to hear how we pronounce each sound so they can support reading at home with confidence.
Below you'll find Little Wandle videos showing the pure sounds taught in Reception, along with our phonics progression document below. Watching these short videos together can help your child practise the correct pronunciation and build confidence.
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 1
Phase 2 sounds taught in Reception Autumn 2
Phase 3 sounds taught in Reception Spring 1
Reading Practice
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 take part in three Reading Practice sessions each week with an adult.
Each session has a different focus:
- Decoding – reading words accurately using phonics.
- Prosody – reading fluently with expression.
- Comprehension – understanding and talking about what has been read.
Children read fully decodable Little Wandle books matched to their phonics knowledge, helping them build fluency and confidence before moving on.
Reading at Home
Reading at home makes a huge difference.
Each week your child will bring home:
- a reading practice book matched to their phonics stage
- a sharing book to enjoy together.
We encourage families to read regularly, celebrate success and make reading an enjoyable part of everyday life. Talking about stories, characters and new vocabulary is just as important as listening to your child read.
Keeping Every Child on Track
We regularly assess children's phonics knowledge to ensure they are making good progress.
Children who need additional support receive short daily Keep Up sessions, helping them secure learning quickly and keep pace with their classmates.
All staff receive regular training and coaching to ensure phonics is taught consistently and effectively across the school.
Reading in Key Stage 2
As children become fluent readers, the focus shifts from learning to read to reading to learn.
Children take part in carefully planned whole-class reading lessons using high-quality texts that develop fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Teachers model expert reading, encourage discussion and help children think deeply about what they have read.
Alongside whole-class reading, children have opportunities for guided reading, independent reading and reading for pleasure. Additional support is provided for any child who needs help to develop fluency or comprehension, ensuring every child continues to make progress as a reader.
Reading is closely linked to our English curriculum, with rich texts inspiring discussion, writing and wider learning across the curriculum.
Reading for Pleasure
We want every child to develop a genuine love of reading.
Children enjoy daily story time, class novels and access to a wide range of high-quality books through classroom reading areas and our school library. We celebrate reading through author studies, book recommendations, World Book Day and other reading events that encourage children to discover new books and share their enjoyment with others.
Our Aim
We want every child to leave Thringstone Primary School as a fluent, confident reader who not only has the skills to succeed but also understands the enjoyment, imagination and opportunities that reading can bring.