Reading & Phonics Schemes
At Winnersh, we want every child to be a successful, fluent reader and writer by the end of Key Stage One. We believe that this is achievable through a combination of strong, high quality, discrete phonics teaching combined with regular, daily opportunities for developing reading skills. The teaching of phonics is a key strategy that is used to help our children to read, write and spell.
Phonics is taught in a highly structured programme of daily lessons in groups differentiated according to children’s phonic awareness and development. At Winnersh, we teach phonics through a programme called Monster Phonics. It is a multi-sensory approach using colour to help children remember sounds. The sounds are categorised into ten colour groups and each colour has a corresponding monster character. Each session gives an opportunity for children to revisit their previous experience, be taught new skills, practise together and apply what they have learnt.
For more information on how we teach Phonics at Winnersh Primary, please watch the video below.
Miss C Moore
Lead for Phonics
Phonics at Winnersh Primary School
Please watch this video to find out more about how we teach phonics.
An Introduction to Monster Phonics
Monster Phonics Pure Speech Sounds
Phonics Screening Check
What is the Phonics Screening Check?
The Phonics Screening Check is a helpful tool to make sure your child is on the right track with their reading skills. It’s a quick reading test that teachers use to see how well your child can sound out and blend words. Don’t worry; it’s not meant to be stressful! It’s more like a friendly checkpoint on their reading journey.
Why is it important?
This check helps teachers identify any areas where your child might need a little extra support. By catching any reading challenges early, we can work together to help your child become a confident reader.
How does it work?
Usually, the check happens in the month of June in Year 1 at school. Your child’s teacher will sit down with them one-on-one and ask them to read a list of words and simple sentences. They will listen to how your child sounds out the words and blends them together. It’s a short and sweet assessment, usually taking just a few minutes. Your child will be assessed on their reading of 40 words, 20 of which are real and 20 of which are nonsense or ‘alien’ words. Nonsense words test your child’s ability to read words without the support of any memory of words that they may have come across in reading.
Click on the link below to access a Screening Check Tool to practise with your child.
Monster Phonics Screening Check Tool
Reading Scheme
To compliment our Monster Phonics teaching we use Monster Phonics physical and eBooks.
We also read Big Cat Phonics books which align to our phonics teaching.