Phonics & Early Reading
Read Write Inc (RWI) Phonics
At Kidgate Academy, a primary academy with a strong commitment to nurturing kind hearts and curious minds, we believe that early reading skills are the foundation for lifelong learning. Our approach to phonics and early reading is designed to ensure every child becomes a confident, fluent reader who loves books and embraces learning with resilience and respect.
We use the Read Write Inc (RWI) phonics programme to give pupils the best possible start in literacy. This carefully structured programme helps children aged 4 to 7 (and beyond if needed) learn to read fluently and at speed, enabling them to focus on comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling.
RWI was developed by Ruth Miskin and more information on this can be found at https://ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/
Teaching of Phonics
RWI supports our vision by fostering curiosity through engaging reading experiences through collaborative learning activities. Starting in Reception, pupils learn the 44 sounds of English using simple picture prompts and fun rhymes to form letters correctly.
We teach pure sounds (e.g., ‘m’ not ‘muh’) to make blending easier, using a friendly frog character called Fred to sound out words (“Fred Talk”). Pupils practise reading words, sentences, and stories matched to their phonics stage, developing comprehension through discussion questions that encourage them to find and prove answers in texts.
The following video is an example of blending sounds with Fred. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEzfpod5w_Q
Writing skills are developed alongside reading. Pupils learn to write letters and words by using the sounds they know, practising sentence building aloud before writing. Talking and partner work are central to lessons, helping pupils answer questions, practise activities, and develop ambitious vocabulary in a supportive environment that values respect and resilience.
The RWI programme is delivered in daily 40-minute sessions, progressing through three sets of sounds—from initial sounds in Early Years to more complex sounds as pupils become confident readers. Pupils also learn to read “nonsense words” (alien words) to apply their phonics skills, an essential part of preparing for the Year 1 Phonics Screening check.
Use the link below to support your pronunciation sounds correctly. https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/#lg=1&slide=3
They encounter both ‘red words’ (tricky words to learn by sight) and ‘green words’ (decodable words linked to sounds taught), building reading fluency and confidence.
Each RWI session is underpinned by five key principles:
- Purpose: Children know the focus of each activity.
- Participation: Every pupil takes part fully, often working with a partner.
- Praise: Effort and learning are celebrated to foster resilience.
- Pace: Lessons move briskly to maintain engagement.
- Passion: Teachers’ enthusiasm inspires pupils’ love of reading.
Reading at home
For reading home, pupils will bring phonics-based books to read at least three times per week to help them become confident readers and helping them develop speed and fluency. Later, they will receive comprehension-focused books to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of texts.
We encourage parents to support reading at home by using resources such as the Ruth Miskin website, BBC Bitesize, and Oxford Owl, which offer games, eBooks, and guidance to make learning phonics fun and effective.
Useful websites for Parents
Please find a list of websites that you may find useful in helping you and your child learn about phonics. Games and fun activity websites are also included.
- https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/ – Information and resources to support phonics learning at home
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z7tr96f - fun games for the children to play
- https://ictgames.com/mobilePage/literacy.html - fun games for the children to play
- http://www.firstschoolyears.com – fun games for the children to play
- BBC Bitesize – many games to play covering all areas of the curriculum
Read Write Inc guide for parents
The following links provides lots of free Read Write Inc. Phonics resources to help your child, including eBooks, practice sheets and parent films.
https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/
Parent guide to Read Write Inc. Phonics - Oxford Owl
Book My Reading and Writing Kit: Early sounds and blending This comprehensive kit is packed full of resources to help your child learn to read and write. It is a perfect way to prepare your child for school and support them as they begin to learn phonics in Nursery and Reception. Includes flashcards, a handwriting book, wipe-clean sheet and pen, and parent handbook View product
By embedding the values of respect, resilience, and kindness within our phonics teaching, we create a nurturing environment where pupils are supported to grow both academically and personally. Together, we open the doors to new worlds through reading, equipping pupils with the skills and confidence to become independent, lifelong learners.
