Phonics

Intent

At Kingsley Primary, we strive to ensure all children can read confidently and fluently.

As a wonderfully diverse school, many of our students have English as a second language. To support them, we deliver high-quality phonics lessons through a systematic programme while fostering a rich, language-based classroom environment.

Implementation & Impact

Phonics Programme: Monster Phonics
We use Monster Phonics, a DfE-validated, child-centred phonics programme that makes learning engaging through a systematic colour-coded approach and interactive phoneme monsters. Lessons are multisensory, incorporating reading, writing, singing, and actions.

The programme is supported by the Literacy Counts English scheme, which emphasizes vocabulary-rich texts and diverse writing opportunities. Together, these ensure children enjoy and excel in phonics lessons while empowering teachers with excellent resources and training.

Teaching Approach

Daily Lessons: Pupils in EYFS and Phase 1 participate in daily, discrete phonics sessions.
Intervention: Same-day catch-ups and phonological awareness support are provided for children needing extra help.
Consistency: High-quality, consistent phonics teaching is embedded across the school.
Assessment: Regular monitoring is essential for developing confident readers and writers. Monster Phonics includes a structured assessment schedule for Reception, Year 1, and Year 2, focusing on grapheme-phoneme correspondence (GPC), High-Frequency Words (HFWs), and Common Exception Words (CEWs). Teachers use The Monster Phonics online assemment tracker for real-time assessments, enabling quick identification and support for any gaps.
Continued Support: Focused intervention is provided for children in Year 3 and KS2 as needed.

Phonics Screening Check (Year One)
At the end of Year 1, pupils take the government’s Phonics Screening Check, decoding real and ‘alien’ words. Results are shared with parents, and additional support is provided for those needing to retake in Year 2.

Home Reading Books

Pupils are encouraged to read daily at home with books from the Monster Phonics reading scheme, fully aligned with their learning.
Additional books, such as Bug Club (up to Phase 3) and non-scheme options for advanced readers, supplement their learning.
Every child also selects a reading-for-pleasure book from our updated collection.
From Year 1, Guided Reading sessions further develop phonics skills.