Teaching of Phonics at Long Ditton Infant and Nursery School:

We follow the Read Write Inc structured, synthetic phonics programme to teach phonics. This scheme has been validated by the Department for Education and follows current best practice on the teaching of phonics and reading and educational research about the way that children learn best.

From the Nursery through to Year 2 our phonics teaching is highly organised and  introduces phonics to children through exciting lessons and reading activities. We use whole school assessments to group children according to their needs and the whole teaching staff are trained in how to deliver the lessons. More information about our structured phonic programme can be found  below:

Read Write Inc Guide for Parents

Phonics Help for Parents

Learning Set 1 Speed Sounds

These are the Set 1 Speed Sounds written with one letter:

m  a  s  d  t  i  n  p  g  o  c  k  u  b  f  e  l  h  r  j  v  y  w  z  x

These are the sounds written with two letters (your child will call these ‘special friends’):

sh  th  ch  qu  ng  nk  ck

Check if your child can read these sounds. Make sure they say sounds like ‘mmm’, not letter names like ‘em’. Watch the Sound Pronunciation Guide video to help you.

If your child is learning Set 1 Speed Sounds, help them to:

• Practise the sounds they have been taught from Speed Sounds Set 1
• Practise reading the Speed Sounds speedily with the Set 1 Speed Sounds slideshow.

Learning to blend with Set 1 Speed Sounds

Your child is learning to read words containing Set 1 Speed Sounds by sound blending. For example:

m-a-t mat

c-a-t cat

g-o-t got

f-i-sh fish            
s-p-o-t spot

b-e-s-t best

s-p-l-a-sh splash.

If your child is learning to sound blend, help them to:

• Read the Sound Blending eBooks in order.
• When your child can sound blend confidently, they can also practise reading the words on the Speedy Green Word slideshow for Red Ditty level.
• You could watch the Sound Blending video to help you support your child with sound blending.

Learning Set 2 Speed Sounds

These are the Set 2 Speed Sounds:

ay  ee  igh  ow (as in blow)  oo (as in zoo)

oo (as in look) ar  or  air  ir  ou (as in out)  oy

Check if your child can read these sounds.

If your child is learning the Set 2 Speed Sounds, help them to:

• Practise the sounds they have been taught from Speed Sounds Set 2 
• Complete the Speed Sounds practice sheets for the Speed Sounds they have learnt
• Practise reading the Speed Sounds speedily with the Set 2 Speed Sounds slideshow.
• When your child is confident and has finished reading the eBooks for a level, they can practise reading the words on the Speedy Green Word slideshow for that level.

Learning Set 3 Speed Sounds

These are Set 3 Speed Sounds:

ea (as in tea)

oi (as in spoil)

a–e (as in cake)

i–e (as in smile)

o–e (as in home)

u–e (as in huge) 

aw (as in yawn)

are (as in care)

ur (as in nurse)

er  (as in letter)

ow (as in brown)

ai  (as in snail)

oa (as in goat)

ew (as in chew)

ire (as in fire)

ear (as in hear)

ure (as in pure)

Check if your child can read these sounds.

If your child is learning Set 3 Speed Sounds, help them to:

• Complete the Speed Sounds practice sheets for the Speed Sounds they have learnt
• Practise reading the Speed Sounds speedily on the Set 3 Speed Sounds slideshow.
• When your child is confident and has finished reading the eBooks for a level, they can practise reading the words on the Speedy Green Word slideshow for that level.