At Deykin Avenue Junior and Infant School, we aim for all our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading. We use Read Write Inc Phonics (RWI) in Reception, year 1 and year 2 to give your child the best possible start with their literacy. Some pupils may need to continue with RWI beyond year 2 if they are assessed as needing the support.

Mrs. Lambert is our Phonics Lead, so if you have questions about RWI, please email her: c.lambert@deykinav.bham.sch.uk.

Reception

In Reception all children will learn how to ‘read’ the sounds in words and how those sounds can be written down. Those who are ready, will begin to read simple words within books and write some of these. Watch the video below to find out how to pronounce the ‘pure’ sounds. 

Year 1 and above

Children follow the same format as Reception but will work on complex sounds and read books appropriate to their reading level. Daily sessions of RWI phonics last for one hour.

Fred Talk

Fred is our Read, Write Inc. friend. He can only speak in sounds, so we help him learn to say words instead of sounds. For example, Fred says 'm-a-t' instead of mat.

Spelling with your Fred Fingers

Children are taught to use their fingers to help them write words. The children say the word out loud and break it down into its individual sounds. If a word has 3 sounds children hold up 3 fingers, 4 sounds 4 fingers etc. Children pinch each finger as they say the sounds needed in the word then they write the letters that represent each sound. 

When using Fred Fingers each finger represents one sound. When children reach yellow Read Write Inc. storybooks, they will learn to trace the letters onto each finger and say the letter names.

Nonsense words (Alien words) 

Research has shown that incorporating nonsense words into teaching reading can be an effective way to establish blending and segmenting skills. However, it is important to ensure that children understand that they are reading nonsense words (and why) so that they are not confused by trying to read the words for meaning. By reading nonsense words children develop their ability to decode individual sounds and then blend them together to read. They are an indicator of early reading skills and work as a quick, reliable, and valid way of assessing children. However, reading nonsense words is only a small part of the Read, Write Inc. phonics teaching.

Please watch the videos below to understand what we are teaching your child in school – if you practise with your child at home, their progress will be through the roof!