Phonics at Berry Hill

At Berry Hill we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds revised programme.

Please follow the link below to visit the parent page on the Little Wandle website. This page has lots of information and videos which explain how we teach key elements of the programme. Please use the tabs on the page to explore the materials. If you are having difficulty using the website please speak to your child's teacher who will be able to show you the different areas. 

Little Wandle Resources for Parents

There are also downloadable copies of the order we teach the letter sounds. Please see your child's teacher if you would like a paper copy and are unable to print one for yourself.

Please click this link if you would like to view the Programme Overview for F2 (Reception) and Year 1. 

Little Wandle Programme Overview

Below is our Early Reading and Phonics policy if you would like to read it.

If you were unable to attend our Early Reading and Phonics parent meeting then please look at the powerpoint below. The video links for Blending and Tricky Words will unfortunately not work as the document had to be uploaded as a PDF but if you visit the Little Wandle parent resources website (link further up the page) you can watch the videos. 

Supporting your child with reading

Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home. There are two types of reading book that your child may bring home:

• A reading practice book. This will be at the correct phonic stage for your child. They should be able to read this fluently and independently. If they are no longer using phonics books they will bring home a colour banded/ accelerated reader book. This usually happens in Year 2. Your child's class teacher will tell you when your child has progressed onto these books.
• A sharing book.  Your child will not be able to read this on their own. This book is for you both to read and enjoy together.

Reading practice book

If your child is reading phonics books (typically F2 and Year 1) they will have 3 reading practice sessions a week. They will then bring the book home and keep it for a week until it is replaced with a new book. This book has been carefully matched to your child’s current reading level. If your child is reading it with little help, please don’t worry that it’s too easy – your child needs to develop fluency and confidence in reading and should be able to read around 95% of the book fluently; without sounding out. Younger children who are just starting to read will likely still need to sound out but they should be moving away from this and should be reading words as a whole by the spring/summer of F2. Listen to your child read their book. Remember to give them lots of praise – celebrate their success! If they can’t read a word, read it to them. After they have finished, talk about the book together. Do not feel that you have to read the whole book in one go if that is not possible. Little and often is also effective. 

Sharing book

In order to encourage your child to become a lifelong reader, it is important that they learn to read for pleasure. The sharing book is a book they have chosen for you to enjoy together.

Please remember that you shouldn’t expect your child to read this alone. Read it to or with them. Discuss the pictures, enjoy the story, predict what might happen next, use different voices for the characters, explore the facts in a non-fiction book. The main thing is that you have fun!

If you have any questions or need any further help, please speak to your child's class teacher who will be happy to assist!

Little Wandle Books To Come Home Video

To help with your understanding of phonics, we have provided a glossary of phonics terms. We use all of these terms when teaching, so children will be familiar with these.

Following the introduction of the revised OFSTED framework in September 2019, there have been some changes to the teaching of reading and phonics, which are explained on the Little Wandle website link below. Please click the link and then select the 'Books Coming Home' tab to watch a short explanation video about the two books coming home.