Phonics at Flamstead Village School

At Flamstead Village School, we use Supersonic Phonic Friends (SSPF) to teach pupils the essential skills they need to become confident readers and writers.

SSPF is a systematic synthetic phonics programme. Pupils are taught the sounds that letters and groups of letters represent and how to blend these sounds together to read words. They also learn to segment words into sounds to support their spelling and writing.

Phonics is taught daily by staff who are trained to deliver the SSPF programme. Pupil's progress is assessed throughout their phonics journey so that teaching can be adapted to meet their needs.

Reading

Through SSPF, pupils learn to:

• recognise sounds and the letters or groups of letters that represent them using See it with Sam
• blend sounds together to read words using Blend it with Ben
• develop fluency and confidence when reading
• read books matched closely to their phonics knowledge
• talk about and understand what they have read

Writing & Spelling

Pupils are taught to:

• form letters correctly
• identify the sounds they can hear within words using Listen with Len
• segment words into sounds using Segment with Seb
• choose the correct graphemes to represent these sounds
• apply their phonics knowledge independently when writing using Build it with Bill

Speaking & Listening

Speaking and listening are an important part of our phonics teaching. Pupils are encouraged to Turn, Talk and Tell, giving them opportunities to answer questions, share their ideas, listen carefully to others and develop their confidence using spoken language.

Supporting Reading at Home

One of the most valuable ways to support your child is to read and talk together regularly. Sharing stories, poems and non-fiction books helps children develop their vocabulary, comprehension, imagination and enjoyment of reading.

When reading together, talk about new and interesting words and encourage your child to ask what unfamiliar words mean. Don’t be afraid to use ambitious or ‘big’ words in everyday conversation – hearing a rich range of vocabulary helps children understand and use these words themselves.

Talk about the books you share; discuss the characters, make predictions about what might happen next and encourage your child to explain their ideas. Most importantly, keep reading enjoyable and continue reading aloud to your child, even as they become more confident readers themselves.

Every child develops at their own pace. The books sent home are designed to build confidence and give pupils the opportunity to practise the skills they have learned in school.