Sounds~Write Curriculum

 Sounds~Write

At Westbury Juniors we teach phonics using a phonics programme called Sounds-Write. Sounds-Write is a highly structured, multi-sensory approach to teaching children to read and spell.

Through the programme, children are taught four key concepts:

• Letters are symbols that represent sounds
• Sounds can be spelled using 1, 2, 3 or 4 letters
• The same sound can be spelled in different ways
• The same spelling can represent different sounds

Every day, children are taught the 3 skills required to learn to read and spell..

• Blending – the ability to push sounds together to make a word
• Segmenting – the ability to pull apart the individual sounds in words
• Phoneme manipulation – the ability to insert sounds into and delete sounds out of words

At Westbury Infant School and Westbury Church of England Junior School, we work closely together to ensure that children develop the strong reading skills they need to become confident, fluent readers.

While the Infant School uses Read Write Inc. and the Junior School uses Sounds-Write, both programmes are based on the same fundamental principle: systematic synthetic phonics.

Why does the Infant School use Read Write Inc.?

Read Write Inc. provides a highly structured and engaging introduction to phonics for younger children. It supports children in Reception and Key Stage 1 to develop their early reading skills through a clear progression in:

• recognising sounds;
• learning how sounds are represented by letters;
• blending sounds to read words;
• developing early fluency and confidence.

The programme is particularly well suited to supporting children at the beginning of their reading journey.

Why does the Junior School use Sounds-Write?

As children move into Key Stage 2, their reading needs develop. While many children will have secured the foundations of phonics, some may still need additional support with decoding, spelling and reading fluency.

Sounds-Write provides a structured approach which enables staff to:

• build on children's existing phonics knowledge;
• revisit and secure gaps in learning;
• support pupils who still need help with decoding;
• develop understanding of more complex spelling patterns;
• support both reading and spelling;
• provide targeted intervention for pupils who need additional phonics teaching.

It is particularly effective for older pupils because it can be used flexibly to address gaps without children feeling that they are repeating an early-years phonics programme.

Is there continuity between the two schools?

Yes. Although the programmes are different, the underlying knowledge children develop is closely connected.

Both programmes teach children that:

Words are made up of sounds and those sounds can be represented in different ways through letters and letter combinations.

When children transfer from the Infant School to the Junior School, staff use assessment information and transition discussions to understand each child's reading profile and identify any gaps in phonics knowledge.

Children who are secure readers continue to develop their reading through a rich and ambitious reading curriculum, while those who need further support receive carefully targeted teaching and intervention.

Our shared aim

Our priority is not for every child to follow the same programme throughout their primary education. Our priority is to ensure that every child receives the teaching and support they need at the right stage of their reading journey.

By using programmes that are appropriate to the different stages of children's development, both schools aim to ensure that pupils:

• develop secure decoding skills;
• become confident and fluent readers;
• understand and enjoy what they read; and
• leave primary education with the reading skills they need for the next stage of their education.

Together, our approach ensures that children receive the right reading provision at the right time, while maintaining a shared commitment to high-quality, systematic phonics teaching.

Reading Lessons – KS2

Throughout KS2, children are explicitly taught to develop fluency and understanding in a variety of ways including whole class Just Reading texts, fluency lessons and small group work.

Reading at Home – KS2

It is vital that children continue to read and be read to at home throughout KS2.  Sharing books, both fiction and non-fiction helps develop vocabulary, helps to broaden their knowledge of the world and the people in it as well as fostering a love of books and reading.  Please speak to your class teacher if you need any support or advice on how best to read with your child.