Phonics
The Black Country Schools Federation
Phonics Curriculum
A structured and systematic approach to early reading success
At The Black Country Schools Federation, we believe phonics is the foundation of reading and writing. Our aim is for every child to become a fluent, confident reader by the end of Key Stage 1 through high-quality, systematic phonics instruction.
Across the federation, all pupils receive daily phonics lessons, matched to the latest research in reading science. We follow approved synthetic phonics programmes, delivered with fidelity and precision by trained staff, ensuring consistency and impact.
Curriculum Intent
Our phonics curriculum is built around five core principles:
- Systematic, Synthetic Teaching – Daily phonics lessons following a clear progression of GPCs.
- Rigorous Progression – Building from simple to complex phoneme-grapheme correspondences.
- Precise Decodable Practice – Pupils read books that match their phonics knowledge.
- Targeted Intervention – Rapid support for pupils at risk of falling behind.
- Reading with Fluency and Expression – Pupils read with accuracy, pace, and prosody.
School-Specific Approaches
Brockmoor Primary School: Read Write Inc. (RWI)
Brockmoor uses the Read Write Inc. programme. Pupils receive 50-minute daily lessons with consistent routines: review, teach, practise, apply. New GPCs are introduced systematically, and pupils read decodable books aligned to their phonics stage. Assessment is ongoing, with immediate intervention for any child not on track.
Brierley Hill Primary School: Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised
Brierley Hill follows Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. Pupils engage in 20–30 minutes of daily phonics instruction in ability groups. Lessons follow the ‘review, teach, practise, apply’ model and are underpinned by structured assessments and Keep-Up interventions to ensure all children progress securely.
Progression and Delivery
Across both schools, phonics is taught through a clearly sequenced progression:
- Reception: Begins with simple GPCs, digraphs, trigraphs, and oral blending.
- Year 1: Introduces alternative graphemes and prepares children for the national Phonics Screening Check.
- Year 2: Extends phonics knowledge into spelling, fluency, and grammar.
Every lesson follows a consistent sequence to maximise retention:
- Revisit and Review
- Teach
- Practise
- Apply
- Assess
Assessment and Intervention
- Daily in-lesson checks monitor progress in real time.
- Half-termly assessments identify children needing additional support.
- Immediate intervention ensures no child is left behind.
- Catch-Up programmes are delivered daily to close gaps.
- The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a key milestone for measuring success.
Phonics and Writing
Phonics is closely linked to early writing development:
- Children learn to segment for spelling.
- Dictation reinforces phoneme-grapheme understanding.
- Tricky words and common exception words are explicitly taught.
- Handwriting is practised alongside phonics in Reception and Year 1.
Developing a Reading Culture
Phonics is the starting point for reading, but not the end. We embed phonics within a rich reading environment:
- Daily storytime and shared reading.
- Class book corners and literature spine texts.
- Discussion and early comprehension embedded from EYFS.
The Impact
By the end of Key Stage 1, pupils across the federation are:
- Fluent and confident readers.
- Secure in their phonics knowledge.
- Able to spell accurately using phonics strategies.
- Prepared for the demands of a broad and ambitious curriculum.
Further Information
For:
- Programme Progression Maps (Read Write Inc. and Little Wandle)
- Decodable Book Lists
- Parent Workshops and Home Reading Guidance
Please contact our Lead Practioner Lizzy Farmer at:
info@blackcountryschools.co.uk
