Millcourt School, Shelf, Halifax
“Teaching pupils to read is a key focus in school. Well-trained staff support those pupils who need specialist phonics support. Daily reading and story sessions happen every day.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement
Longcause Community Special School, Plymouth, Devon
“The school aims for every pupil to become a reader. Pupils benefit from highly effective phonics teaching across the school. The school ensures staff have the knowledge and expertise to teach phonics skilfully.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Hoyland Springwood Primary School, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
“Adults support pupils who need help to read regularly. High-quality staff training ensures the support given is top class.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Ruth’s Updates
This newsletter includes: the new online assessment, Leadership training for new reading leaders, interactive strategies to get children talking in your school, animated virtual classroom Fred Games, Reception training films, Phonics in-action films including for pupils with SEND/ASN.
Burraton Community Primary School, Saltash, Cornwall
“Staff training ensures that there is a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics. Children begin their phonics learning in Nursery. They start to learn to read as soon as they begin Reception Year. The school regularly checks pupils’ phonics knowledge and quickly identifies those who need additional support.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Pattishall Church of England Primary School, Towcester, Northamptonshire
“Reading is a priority in the school. Teachers and other adults have received training to ensure that they deliver the phonics programme well. Pupils who struggle to learn to read get extra support and practice.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good
Bozeat Community Primary School, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
“Everyone shares an ambition to get children reading as soon as they can. This begins with high-quality phonics lessons as soon as children start school. The youngest children listen with rapt attention to new sounds. Staff spot quickly when a pupil does not know a sound well enough.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection:
St Peter at Gowts CE Primary – Lincoln
“Children who start with no English are reading and applying phonic knowledge by the end of the year, therefore achieving the phonics screening check (PSC).”
Gnosall St Lawrence CE Primary Academy – Stafford
“Ofsted noted that the teaching of early reading is a strength of the school, and that standards in the Year 1 phonics screening check (PSC) are above those of children nationally.”
My Bindhi by Gita Varadarajan and Archana Sreenivasan
It is an important moment in Divya’s life; time to wear a bindhi. She is nervous about what her school friends might say and is ‘all mixed up’. Is she scared or is she proud? She bravely stands up in class and explains, ‘it can see inside me and protect me. It makes me feel like ME’.