At St Werburgh’s we follow Little Wandle for the teaching of daily Phonics.

What is it?

  • Phonics Programme:

    Little Wandle teaches children to read by first helping them recognize and pronounce individual sounds (phonemes) and the letters or letter groups that represent them (graphemes). 

  • Systematic and Synthetic:

    It follows a structured, systematic approach, teaching children to blend these sounds together to read words (decoding) and to break words down into sounds to spell them. 

  • Evidence-Based:

    The program is built on the latest research and evidence about how children learn best to read. 

How does it work?

  • Daily Lessons:

    Children have daily phonics lessons to learn new sounds and words. 

  • Fluency Practice:

    They practice reading words and texts with accuracy and expression, smoothly and in a timely manner. 

  • Interventions:

    The program includes interventions to help children who are struggling, ensuring no child is left behind. 

  • Assessments:

    Regular assessments help teachers monitor children's progress and identify areas where they might need additional support. 

Key Components:

  • Grapheme-Phoneme Correspondence:

    Children learn to match the sounds in spoken language to the written symbols (graphemes). 

  • Reading Comprehension:

    Beyond decoding, the program also aims to develop a child's understanding and interpretation of the text they read. 

  • Support for Schools and Parents:

    Little Wandle offers resources like training, videos, and planning materials for teachers, as well as support and resources for parents to help their children at home.