Phonics

At Berry Brow Infant and Nursery Academy, we believe that strong communication skills are the foundation for success in all areas of learning. From Nursery through to the end of Key Stage 1, we provide a language-rich environment where children develop the confidence to speak, listen, read and write with increasing independence. 

Developing speaking and listening skills is at the heart of our curriculum. We recognise that children learn best through high-quality interactions with adults and their peers. Staff carefully model ambitious vocabulary, accurate language and effective communication throughout the school day. Through purposeful conversations, storytelling, play, discussion and collaborative learning, children are encouraged to express their ideas, ask questions, listen attentively and respond thoughtfully, enabling them to become confident and articulate communicators. 

Our approach to early reading begins with the teaching of phonics through the Department for Education accredited Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) programme. This systematic, synthetic phonics programme is delivered with rigour and fidelity by all teachers and teaching assistants to ensure consistency across the school. 

Children begin their phonics journey in the Early Years, where they develop essential listening skills, phonological awareness and a love of stories before progressing into daily systematic phonics teaching. In Reception, children participate in discrete whole-class phonics lessons every day, learning new sounds, practising blending for reading and segmenting for spelling. Regular review sessions ensure previously taught knowledge is retained and applied with confidence. 

This progression continues into Year 1, where daily phonics teaching builds children’s fluency, accuracy and automaticity in reading and spelling. Throughout Reception and Year 1, learning is reinforced through flashcards, carefully matched reading books and frequent opportunities to apply phonics across the curriculum. Additional phonics interventions are provided for children who require further support to ensure every child keeps up with the programme. 

As children move into Year 2, phonics continues to underpin reading and writing. Those who have not yet secured the expected phonic knowledge receive targeted support through Essential Letters and Sounds interventions, while all pupils continue to apply their phonic knowledge alongside developing wider reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary and writing skills. Phonics remains the primary strategy we use to decode unfamiliar words and support accurate spelling across the school. As children become more independent and fluent readers, books are carefully selected to ensure they are engaging, interesting and continue to develop their reading skills whilst fostering a love of reading.  

Our ambition is for every child to leave Berry Brow Infant and Nursery Academy as a fluent reader, an enthusiastic writer and a confident communicator, equipped with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary they need to succeed in the next stage of their education.