At Birkwood Primary School, we know that reading is the key to success. Therefore, reading sits at the heart of our entire curriculum. The prioritisation of reading begins as soon as children enter our Foundation Stage in Nursery and continues throughout school. Our goal is to ensure that every child becomes a reader.

Here you will find all of the information you need to support your child's reading at home. Each half term, the children are assessed and placed in groups to meet their 'challenge' level. Throughout, there is information regarding what is taught in each group as well as information regarding how children progress to the next group.

We continue to strive for a love of reading throughout school and we aim for all children to see themselves as readers.

We value your continued support and if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Miss Sabin and the reading team.

• Read Set 1 single letter sounds

• Blend cvc words e.g. c-a-t

• Spell using Fred Fingers

  
  

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read 16 or more single-letter sounds speedily

  
  

Sounds we learn:

m,a,s,d,t,i,n,p,g,o,c,k,u,b,f,e

• Read all Set 1 single letter sounds

• Learn to blend e.g. k-i-t

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read most Set 1 single-letter sounds speedily

• Blend sounds into words orally

  
  

Sounds we learn:

l,h,r,j,v,y,w,z,x

• Read all Set 1 single letter sounds speedily

• Blend independently using Phonics Green Word cards

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read all Set 1 single letter sounds speedily

• Read Words with Fred Talk e.g. b-o-x f-o-x

Sounds we learn:

m,a,s,d,t,i,n,p,g,o,c,k,u,b,f,e,l,h,r,j,v,y,w,z,x

• Read Set 1 Special Friends

• Read words with Special Friends e.g. sh-i-p

  
  

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read all Set 1 sounds speedily

• Read word with Special Friends

Sounds we learn: Special Friends

sh,th,ch,qu,ng,nk,ff,ll,ck,ss

Review Set 1 sounds speedily

• Read words with double consonants e.g. b-e-ll d-u-ck

• Read words with 4 and 5 sounds e.g. f-r-o-g

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read all Set 1 sounds speedily including ll, ff, ss, and ck

• Read words with Special Friends

• Read words with double consonants and

• Read 4 sound words

  
  

Sounds we learn: Special Friends

sh,th,ch,qu,ng,nk,ff,ll,ck,ss

• Read Set 2 sounds

• Read matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read previously taught words with Set 1 sounds speedily

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 2

ay, ee, igh, ow, oo, oo

• Read Set 2 sounds

• Read matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read the first six Set 2 sounds (ay, ee, igh, ow, oo, oo)

  speedily

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 2

ar, or, air, ir, ou, oy

• Read Set 2 sounds and matching Phonics Green Words

  (including longer words.)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read all Set 2 sounds speedily

• Read Set 2 sounds in words

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 2

ay, ee, igh, ow, oo, oo, ar, or, air, ir, ou, oy

• Read Set 3 sounds

• Read matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read Set 1 and Set 2 sounds in longer words

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 3

ea, oi, a-e, i-e, o-e, u-e,

• Read Set 3 sounds

• Read matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read Set 3 sounds and matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

• Read a passage at 60-70 words per minute, attempting intonation to show comprehension

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 3

ea, oi, a-e, i-e, o-e, u-e

• Read Set 3 sounds

• Read matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read all Set 3 sounds and matching Phonics Green Words (including longer words)

• Read a passage at 70-80 words per minute, attempting intonation to show comprehension

  
  

Sounds we learn: Set 3

aw, are, ur, er, ow, ai, oa, ew, ire,

ear, ure, tious, tion, e, ue, ie, au, e-e

• Read unfamiliar longer words

To progress to the next group we need to:

• Read longer words containing Set 1, 2 and 3 sounds

• Read a passage at 80-90+ words per minute with intonation that shows some comprehension

Sounds we learn: Set 3

aw, are, ur, er, ow, ai, oa, ew, ire,

ear, ure, tious, tion, e, ue, ie, au, e-e