Phonics at St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

At St Nicholas Catholic Primary School, we believe that strong reading skills form the foundation of all learning. Our Phonics programme, based on the Read Write Inc. (RWI) scheme developed by Ruth Miskin, supports children in becoming confident, fluent readers from the very beginning of their education.

Curriculum Aims

• Ensure all children develop secure knowledge of letter sounds and how these combine to form words.

• Foster fluency in reading through systematic and progressive phonics teaching.

• Promote a love of reading, encouraging children to explore texts independently and with confidence.

• Support children in decoding unfamiliar words, boosting comprehension and vocabulary development.

Our Aims

At St Nicholas, we aim to:

• Provide a structured, consistent approach to teaching phonics across Early Years and Key Stage 1.

• Ensure every child makes progress at their own pace, receiving targeted support where needed.

• Help children develop confidence and enjoyment in reading, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

• Engage parents and carers in supporting phonics learning at home, creating a partnership between school and home.

Curriculum Overview

Our Phonics curriculum follows the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, designed to ensure systematic progression:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): Children are introduced to single-letter sounds (Set 1 sounds) and learn to blend them to read simple words

• Reception & Year 1: Children continue to develop phonics knowledge with Set 2 and Set 3 sounds, focusing on reading fluently and with expression.  

• Year 2: Children consolidate their phonics knowledge, apply it in more complex reading tasks, and continue developing comprehension skills.

Through daily, structured sessions, children learn to decode, blend, and segment words, enabling them to read a wide range of texts confidently.

What is Phonics?

Phonics is a method of teaching reading that focuses on the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent. By learning these connections, children can:

• Decode new words by sounding them out.

• Build reading fluency and confidence.

• Develop spelling and writing skills alongside reading.

The Read Write Inc. scheme uses a systematic, step-by-step approach to teach phonics, incorporating engaging stories and activities to make learning enjoyable.

Resources and Links

To support your child’s phonics journey, we recommend the following:

Ruth Miskin Education – Read Write Inc. Phonics – Parent-friendly guidance, video tutorials, and activity ideas.

Oxford Owl Phonics eBooks – Free access to phonics-aligned reading books.

Phonics Play – Interactive games to support phonics learning at home.