Newton-le-Willows Primary School
Phonics
Phonics at Newton Primary School – Read Write Inc. (RWI)
At Newton Primary School, we follow the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme to support the development of early literacy skills led by our Phonics lead, Mrs Ballard.
What is Read Write Inc.?
Read Write Inc. is a structured phonics programme developed to help children become fluent and confident readers. It is based on synthetic phonics – a method that teaches children to decode words by sounding out letters and letter groups, then blending these sounds together to read whole words.
The Department for Education strongly recommends synthetic phonics as the most effective approach to early reading.
Why Phonics Matters
At Newton Primary, we believe reading is the gateway to learning. When children learn to read well, they can access a wide range of learning opportunities across the curriculum. A confident reader is more likely to enjoy reading, tackle more challenging texts, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
How the Programme Works
Children are regularly assessed and grouped according to their reading level. They work with a trained RWI teacher or learning support assistant to ensure targeted support and consistent progress.
The programme is delivered through a sequence of colour-coded books, each introducing new sounds and vocabulary in a carefully structured way. Assessments take place every six weeks to determine if a child is ready to move on to the next stage.
Progression and Resources
Below, you will find a guide to the progression of book colours along with the typical age ranges for each stage.
Read Write Inc. Phonics Progression Chart
|
Book Band |
Typical Age |
Focus |
|---|---|---|
|
Red Ditty |
4-5years |
Introduction to Set 1 sounds. Learning to blend simple CVC words. Reading short phrases and writing basic words. |
|
Green |
5 years |
Reinforcing Set 1 sounds. Developing fluency with blending. Beginning to read and write simple sentences. |
|
Purple |
5-6 Years |
Consolidating Set 1 sounds. Increasing blending speed. Reading with more fluency. |
|
Pink |
5-6 Years |
Reading longer words and simple sentences. Understanding basic punctuation (capital letters and full stops). |
|
Orange |
6 years |
Introduction of |
|
Yellow |
6 years |
Reinforcing Set 2 sounds. Building confidence with longer texts and new sentence structures. |
|
Blue |
6-7 years |
Introduction to Set 3 sounds. Reading with greater fluency and expression. Understanding more complex vocabulary. |
|
Grey |
7 years |
Mastery of all phonics sounds. Reading longer, more challenging texts with comprehension. Preparing for transition to independent reading. |
How We Teach Reading and Writing at Newton Primary School
At Newton Primary, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme to support children as they learn to read, write, and communicate with confidence. The programme is carefully designed to build strong foundations in phonics, early reading, and language skills.
Reading with RWI
As part of the RWI approach to reading, children will:
• Learn all 44 phonetic sounds and the corresponding letters or letter groups, using engaging visual prompts.
• Blend sounds to read words using a method called Fred Talk (e.g. c-a-t = cat).
• Read lively and fun stories that are carefully matched to the sounds they’ve learned.
• Develop comprehension skills by answering questions like "Find It" and "Prove It" to show understanding of what they’ve read.
Writing with RWI
Through RWI, children also develop essential writing skills:
• Learn how to form letters and letter groups that represent each of the 44 sounds.
• Use Fred Fingers to say the sounds in a word and write them down, building their spelling skills.
• Begin to write simple sentences using phonics knowledge and growing vocabulary.
Speaking and Listening
Oral communication is a key part of the RWI programme. Children work in pairs to:
• Answer and ask questions.
• Take turns speaking and listening, building confidence and respect for others.
• Give each other positive praise, encouraging teamwork and motivation.
Sound Blending (Fred Talk)
You can support your child at home by practising sound-blending. This means saying each sound in a word and blending them together to say the whole word. For example:
• c-a-t = cat
• sh-o-p = shop
Help your child to say pure sounds – for example:
• ‘m’ not ‘muh’
• ‘s’ not ‘suh’
Encourage them to blend the sounds together quickly to form the word.