Reading and Phonics
Focus on Phonics
At Thorntree Academy our Whole School literacy Focus is working together to improve teaching and learning in Phonics and Reading.
Parents are an important part of this process, encouraging and supporting your children to read and to become literate citizens and life long readers.
This is not a daunting task. The best way to help your children is to give them your time. Chatting about their day or what you see on your way to school will help them develop their vocabulary and understanding of language. Five minutes a night, sharing a story with your children or listening to them read will also support them in their learning.
If your children enjoy using the computer then listed below are a few websites you could use together to support and develop their phonics and reading skills in a fun way. Some of the sites also have information for parents too.
Phonics play is a fantastic website resource to support your child’s reading and phonics development at home in a fun way.
The site gives access to free online games, printable flashcards and games.
Below is a guide linking the colour of the book band your child brings home with the approximate phonics stage they will be accessing.This in turn will help you find appropriate resources on the website.
| Book Band | Phonics Phase |
| Pink | 2 |
| Red | 3 |
| Yellow | 3-4 |
| Blue | 4 |
| Green | 4-5 |
| Orange | 5 |
| Turquoise | 5 |
| Purple | 5-6 |
| Gold | 6 |
| White & Lime | 6+ |
Phonics play section for parents
http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/ParentsMenu.htm
Phonics play free games
http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm
Oxford owl is another excellent resource providing advice for parents and lots of ideas for supporting your child at home. You can read books together and complete word, sentence and comprehension activities related to the story.
Another website that helps children learn to blend sounds for reading is:
Hairy phonics has a specific focus on helping parents support their children. Again, there are free games to access.
BBC words and pictures
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/wordsandpictures/phonics/
Please find information below to support your child’s reading.
| Title | Link |
| Books all children should read | Download |
| Books and films | Download |
| Focus on phonics | Download |
| Helping your child to read | Download |
| How to choose a good book | Download |
| Recommended books for adults | Download |
| The book trust best book guide 2015 | Download |
We hope that this information is useful to you.
If you would like any more information then please see any of the staff at school who will be happy to help.
