Early Reading and Phonics
At Leadenham Church of England Primary Academy, we are passionate about giving every child the best possible start on their reading journey. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme, a systematic and highly effective approach to teaching phonics. Through daily, structured lessons, children are taught the skills they need to confidently recognise sounds, blend them to read words, and develop strong early reading and spelling skills.

Our approach ensures that all children, regardless of their starting point, make rapid progress. We regularly assess pupils to provide targeted support where needed, so every child can experience success. Alongside phonics, we foster a deep love of reading by sharing high-quality texts and giving children daily opportunities to enjoy books together.

By laying these strong foundations, we equip our children with the skills and confidence they need to become fluent, enthusiastic, and lifelong readers.

How You Can Help at Home
You play a vital role in helping your child develop a love of reading and become a confident, fluent reader. Here are some simple ways you can support your child at home alongside our Little Wandle phonics programme:

• Read together every day – Enjoy sharing books with your child. Listening to stories builds vocabulary, sparks imagination, and develops comprehension.

• Practise phonics sounds – Use the sound and word cards we send home to help your child revisit the sounds they are learning in school.

• Encourage blending – When your child is ready, support them in sounding out and blending words during reading practice.

• Read the same book several times – Re-reading helps build fluency, accuracy, and confidence.

• Talk about stories – Ask questions about the characters, settings, and events to develop your child’s understanding.

• Be positive and encouraging – Celebrate effort as well as success, helping your child to build confidence and a love of reading.

For more information and guidance, you can visit the Little Wandle Parents’ Page, where you’ll find helpful videos and tips on supporting phonics at home.