Our Approach to Teaching Phonics

At Newlyn School, we believe every child can become a confident, fluent reader and writer. To support this, we use Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised—a systematic phonics programme grounded in the latest research on how children learn best.

Phonics teaching begins in Foundation. Children who have attended our Nursery will already have experienced age‑appropriate Little Wandle activities, giving them a gentle and engaging introduction to early reading skills.

Once children have settled into Foundation (usually within the first few weeks), their Little Wandle journey continues with short, focused daily lessons. These sessions minimise distractions and concentrate on the key knowledge children need. They learn each sound clearly and practise applying this knowledge to read an increasing number of words. As they move into Year 1, children continue to build on this strong foundation through regular daily practice. When children move into year 2, we make sure they have learned the full programme and there is time to revisit elements to ensure their knowledge is really embedded.

Throughout their journey, if a child needs additional support, we respond quickly and flexibly. This may involve whole‑class practice, small‑group sessions, or individual intervention—whatever best meets the child’s needs. Support may be brief or longer‑term, but our aim is always to ensure every child keeps moving forward with confidence.