🔤 Phonics at Friday Bridge

At Friday Bridge, we believe that strong phonics teaching is the foundation for confident, fluent readers. That’s why we follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme—a systematic, evidence-based approach to early reading that ensures every child gets off to a flying start.

Our phonics curriculum is carefully sequenced and taught daily from the very beginning of Reception. Children learn how letters represent sounds, how these sounds combine to form words, and how to apply this knowledge to both reading and writing. Through engaging, structured lessons, pupils build their phonic knowledge step by step, mastering the skills they need to decode unfamiliar words with confidence.

📚 What Makes Our Phonics Approach Impactful?

• Daily, High-Quality Lessons: Phonics is taught every day in Reception and Year 1, with regular review sessions to consolidate learning.
• Clear Progression: Children move through the phases of phonics systematically—up to Phase 4 by the end of Reception and Phase 5 by the end of Year 1.
• Targeted Support: Children who need extra help receive daily ‘keep-up’ or ‘catch-up’ sessions, tailored to their specific needs.
• SEND-Friendly: We use adapted resources and a dedicated SEND programme to ensure all learners can access phonics at their own pace.
• Reading Practice: Pupils apply their phonics knowledge in small-group reading sessions using fully decodable books, three times a week.

🧠 How We Teach Phonics

• In Reception and Year 1, phonics is taught daily using the Little Wandle progression.
• Reception lessons begin at 10 minutes and build to 30 minutes, with additional oral blending.
• Year 1 lessons are 30 minutes long, with weekly review sessions.
• In Years 2–6, targeted phonics sessions are delivered where needed, including short, focused interventions for reading and writing gaps.

📖 Reading Practice Sessions

• Children in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 (and beyond if needed) take part in small-group reading sessions three times a week.
• These sessions follow the Little Wandle model and use books matched to each child’s phonics stage.
• The same book is sent home the following week to celebrate success with families.

📝 How We Assess Phonics

• Ongoing formative assessment informs daily teaching and identifies children who need additional support.
• Half-termly assessments track progress using the Little Wandle assessment tools.
• Children in Year 1 take the statutory Phonics Screening Check in the summer term, with a re-check in Year 2 if needed.

🏡 How You Can Help at Home

You play a vital role in your child’s reading journey! Celebrate their progress, read regularly together, and enjoy the books they bring home. These books are carefully matched to your child’s phonics stage, ensuring they can read with confidence and fluency.