Phonics is the gateway to reading and writing, which are life-long skills that pave the way to success both at school and beyond. It is through phonics that our children learn to decode written letters and spoken sounds.  At All Saints’, we teach phonics using a scheme called 'Read Write Inc.' (RWI).

RWI is a literacy programme, designed and developed by Ruth Miskin, one of the country’s leading authorities on teaching children to read. The programme aims to help all children learn to read fluently and at speed, so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. The programme is designed for children aged 4-7. However at All Saints', we begin to expose children in Nursery to skills that will help them access the RWI programme in Reception. We continue teaching RWI to children beyond the age of 7, as we use a stage, not age, approach. 

Like all phonics schemes, RWI teaches children the sounds in English, the letters that represent them, and how to form the letters when writing. RWI includes reading books written using only the letters they have learnt at each level (and a small number of separately taught 'tricky words' (see Glossary of Read Write Inc. terminology). The children will quickly feel confident and successful.

RWI also uses repetition, pictures and rhymes to make the sounds memorable and easy to learn. The sounds are learnt gradually, in three sets, and the children focus on using words which contain these sounds. 

Parent Video: What is 'Read Write Inc.' Phonics?

How will my child be assessed in RWI phonics?

All classes enjoy five lessons of RWI per week. Every half term, each child in Reception and Key Stage 1 is assessed on their letter recognition and reading. After the assessment, any gaps in phonics knowledge, comprehension, or reading fluency will be used to assign each child to a phonics group, for regular sessions with a trained member of staff using RWI methods. These groups are organised according to the children’s specific needs, and the specific sounds, letters and comprehension skills needed are taught in a consistent and engaging way. These regular assessments ensure that children are placed in the most appropriate group for their current phonics skills. Although we do assess all children every 6 weeks, RWI assessment is ongoing, meaning that we assess and regroup as often as is needed.  

The 5 Key Principles of Read Write Inc:

There are 5 key principles that underpin the teaching in all Read Write Inc. sessions:

Purpose – Know the purpose of every activity and share it with the children, so they know the one thing they should be thinking about

Participation – Ensure every child participates throughout the lesson. Partnership work is fundamental to learning

Praise – Ensure children are praised for effort and learning, not ability

Pace – Teach at an effective pace and devote every moment to teaching and learning

Passion – Be passionate about teaching, so children can be engaged emotionally.