Phonics at St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School

At St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring every child develops the skills and confidence to read fluently and with understanding. Our phonics curriculum is delivered using the Monster Phonics program, a highly engaging, research-based approach that supports all children, including those who may face challenges in their early reading journey.

Intent

Our phonics curriculum aims to:

• Develop confident, fluent, and enthusiastic readers who can access a broad and balanced curriculum.
• Equip children with strong decoding and blending skills through a systematic and multi-sensory approach.
• Foster a love of reading, empowering children to explore the world of literature with curiosity and enjoyment.
• Provide a consistent and research-based program that ensures rapid progress for all learners, including those with SEND or EAL.

Implementation

• Daily Phonics Sessions: Phonics is taught daily in EYFS and Key Stage 1, with lessons carefully structured to meet the needs of each class and individual learners.
• Systematic Approach: Monster Phonics systematically teaches the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters (graphemes), using color-coded monsters to make learning accessible and memorable.
• Decodable Books: We use decodable books aligned with the program to reinforce learning in school and at home, helping children build fluency and confidence in reading.
• Assessment and Intervention: Progress is regularly assessed, and additional support is provided to ensure all children can keep up with the pace of the program.
• Parental Involvement: We actively involve parents through workshops and resources, equipping them to support their child’s phonics learning at home.

Supporting SEND Learners in Phonics

At St Catherine’s, we are committed to providing a phonics curriculum that meets the needs of all learners. To achieve this, we:

• Adapt the Program: Monster Phonics is tailored to support children with SEND or EAL by breaking down learning into manageable steps and providing visual and tactile resources.
• Multi-Sensory Approach: The use of color-coded monsters, actions, and songs engages all learning styles, making phonics accessible to every child.
• Focus on Fluency: We prioritize developing fluency and automaticity in phonics, ensuring children master each phase before moving on. This reduces cognitive load, enabling children to focus on comprehension and application of skills.
• Evidence-Based Practices: Our approach is grounded in research, ensuring that teaching strategies are effective in supporting all learners to make progress.

Impact

• High Standards in Phonics: At St Catherine’s, we are proud that 100% of our Year 1 children achieved the expected standard in the Phonics Screening Check in both 2023 and 2024. This reflects the dedication of our staff and the effectiveness of Monster Phonics in supporting early reading.
• Engaged and Confident Readers: Children leave Key Stage 1 as confident and enthusiastic readers, prepared to tackle more complex texts in Key Stage 2.
• Inclusion and Equity: All children, regardless of their starting point, are supported to achieve their potential in reading and phonics.

EYFS

In Reception, phonics learning begins with exploring sounds, recognizing letters, and blending simple words. Children are immersed in activities that build phonemic awareness and a love for stories and books.

Key Stage 1

Throughout Years 1 and 2, children progress systematically through the Monster Phonics program, mastering phonics phases and applying their skills in reading and writing. Regular opportunities for practice and consolidation ensure that all children build fluency and confidence.

Phonics Screening Check

By the end of Year 1, children participate in the national Phonics Screening Check. This milestone helps us celebrate their achievements and identify any areas for further support. Our strong results reflect the impact of our systematic approach and the dedication of our staff.

Resources and Support

• High-quality teaching resources from Monster Phonics ensure consistency and engagement in every lesson.
• Regular training equips our staff with the skills to deliver effective phonics teaching and provide targeted interventions.

At St Catherine’s, we are proud of the high standards our pupils achieve in phonics and their enthusiasm for reading. For more information about our phonics curriculum or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office.

Supporting Key Stage 2 Children Who Have Not Yet Learned to Read with confidence 

At St Catherine’s Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all children become confident, fluent readers. For those in Key Stage 2 who are still developing their reading skills, we take a tailored and supportive approach using Monster Phonics, Reading Plus, and additional targeted interventions to meet their individual needs. We also embed fluency-focused strategies through the CUSP curriculum, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Actions to Support Children Who Have Not Yet Learned to Read with confidence

1. Age-Appropriate Dyslexia Screening

   • We conduct age-appropriate dyslexia screening to identify children who may have specific learning difficulties affecting their reading and spelling.
   • This allows us to implement targeted interventions, such as precision teaching and bespoke support, to address their needs early and effectively.

2. Targeted Phonics Interventions

   • Monster Phonics is used to revisit key phonics skills for children with gaps in their decoding ability.
   • Small-group or one-to-one sessions focus on sound recognition, blending, and segmenting, with activities tailored to each child’s needs based on regular phonics assessments.

3. Precision Teaching with Toe by Toe

   • For children requiring additional focused support, we use Toe by Toe, a structured programme that improves decoding and word recognition skills.
   • This is delivered as part of precision teaching in one-to-one sessions, ensuring children make measurable progress in small, manageable steps.

4. Decodable Books

   • We provide fully decodable books linked to each child’s phonics phase, ensuring they practice within their capability and build confidence.

5. Multi-Sensory Learning

   • Multi-sensory learning methods such as actions, visual prompts, and interactive games make reading accessible and engaging for struggling readers.

6. Parental Engagement

   • Parents are guided on how to support reading at home, including phonics practice and shared reading strategies.

Developing Fluency in Key Stage 2

Fluency is an essential bridge between decoding and comprehension. To develop fluency, we use Reading Plus, precision teaching methods, and integrate fluency-focused activities within the CUSP curriculum.

1. Reading Plus Online Programme

   • Reading Plus supports fluency by combining silent reading practice with comprehension tasks. The programme adapts to each child’s ability, providing engaging texts that encourage pace, accuracy, and confidence.
   • Regular use helps children achieve automaticity in reading while building comprehension skills.

2. Guided Reading with CUSP

   • Guided reading lessons incorporate the CUSP curriculum, where children explore high-quality, rich texts.
   • Teachers model fluent reading during these sessions, focusing on pace, phrasing, and expression, while encouraging children to practice aloud with immediate feedback.

3. Repeated Reading

   • As part of the CUSP curriculum, children revisit core texts multiple times. This repetition strengthens familiarity, improves speed, and enhances expression, supporting fluency and comprehension.

4. Echo Reading

   • Within the CUSP curriculum, we use echo reading strategies, where teachers model fluency by reading a section of text aloud, and children replicate it. This reinforces fluency through accurate phrasing and tone.

5. Performance Opportunities

   • CUSP encourages children to perform readings aloud, such as during shared reading or assembly presentations. These opportunities build confidence, fluency, and public speaking skills.

6. Vocabulary Development with CUSP

   • Vocabulary development is central to the CUSP curriculum. Understanding word meanings supports fluent reading, and explicit vocabulary instruction is embedded in every lesson.

7. Reading for Pleasure

   • The CUSP curriculum encourages a love of reading by incorporating engaging, high-quality texts across subjects. This approach motivates children to read independently, naturally building fluency.

8. Parental Support

   • Parents are encouraged to read regularly with their children at home, using texts linked to the CUSP curriculum to build fluency, comprehension, and enjoyment.

Monitoring Progress

• Progress in reading fluency is tracked through regular assessments, including fluency rate measures, phonics checks, and comprehension tasks.
• Children requiring further support are identified early, with interventions such as Monster Phonics, Toe by Toe, and Reading Plus tailored to their needs.

At St Catherine’s, our reading approach combines the structured support of targeted interventions with the broad, engaging opportunities of the CUSP curriculum. Our goal is for every child to become a confident, fluent reader who loves books and is fully prepared for the next stage of their education.