Phonics and Early Reading

At Rivendell Flying High academy we ensure early reading is prioritized throughout our curriculum to ensure that all our children become confident and fluent readers. Our early reading and phonics approach is designed to foster a love of reading, build essential English skills, and support all our children on their reading journey.

Reading is a vital skill that underpins success across all areas of learning. Research from the EEF, 2024 demonstrates to us that children who develop strong reading habits early are more likely to achieve academically and experience a greater sense of creativity and curiosity. At Rivendell Flying High Academy we aim to instill a passion for reading by exposing the children to high- quality literature, engaging texts and immersive libraries.

To ensure our rigorous approach to the teaching of reading is implemented we hold high aspirations and ambitions for all children. We ensure this is done through reading at the forefront of our curriculum and unlocking and preventing barriers to learn throughout the curriculum.

To achieve this, we:

• Ensure daily reading opportunities to practice reading are built into our timetables
• Prioritizing 1:1 reading for our spotlight readers
• Follow a consistent and rigorous approach
• Provide children with reading books that match their decodable knowledge, ensuring they can be successful readers
• Working in partnership with parents to provide knowledge and support on how they can help at home

Quality First Phonics Teaching

We follow a DfE validated scheme known as 'No-Nonsense Phonics'.

The programme provides a comprehensive step-by-step approach for teaching reading, handwriting, and spelling. The scheme is systematic and is taught through a series of carefully designed phonics routines to master the complex English Alphabetic Code, whilst providing the children with rich vocabulary and extensive opportuntuies for language comprehension.

The programme follows a two-day approach known as a 'Multi-skills' lesson and a 'Mini-story' lesson. Staff are trained in the delivery of the programme with on-going CPL to ensure the children receive high-quality Phonics teaching. 

Each child has their own 'No-Nonsense' workbook, with children moving through these sequentially from Book 1-9. The children's Phonics journey begins in Nursery and follows them into Year 2. When children move into KS2 any further support with phonetic knowledge is revisited and taught as part of an intervention, if required.

Alongside the quality teaching and learning, staff ensure that parents are provided with further information on the programme and how this can supported at home through resources and home learning books.