To develop the key skills in reading, children in the Early Years and Year One take part in daily phonics sessions following Little Wandle Letters and Sounds. All children are expected to have been taught phase 5 by the time they join Year Two. In the summer term, children complete the national phonics screening check. This is carried out in school on a one-to-one basis. Children who do not meet the required standard will continue to receive targeted phonics teaching throughout Year 2 and be retested at the end of Year 2. 

Alongside their daily phonics session, all children in Key Stage 1 also take part in guided reading sessions following the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds reading model. During these sessions, children read books which are matched to their letters and sounds phase. In Reception, phonics assessments determine when the children are ready to start reading a book matched to their phonics phase. The children in KS1 and Reception, once they are ready, are also provided with a text matched to their phonics phase to practise independent reading at home.