At Graffham and Duncton we are passionate about reading and writing. We teach reading through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a systematic and synthetic phonics programme. 

Phonics – Little Wandle

We use the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to plan and provide daily, engaging phonics lessons. In phonics, we teach children that the letters of the alphabet represent a different sound, that these can be used in a variety of combinations and are put together to make words. The children learn to recognise all of the different sounds and combinations that they might see when they are reading or writing. Our phonics teaching starts early in the first few weeks in Reception and follows a very specific sequence that allows our children to build on their previous phonic knowledge and master specific phonic strategies as they move through school. As a result, all of our children are able to tackle any unfamiliar words that they might discover. We also model these strategies in reading practise sessions and writing. We have a strong focus on the development of language skills for our children because we know that speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

For more information about the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme, including information and guidance videos on how to pronounce the sounds and support your child at home, please click on the link.

Handwriting – Kinetic Letters

At Graffham Infant School, we want every child to feel confident and happy when they write. That’s why we use the Kinetic Letters programme, a fun and practical way to teach handwriting. 

The Kinetic Letters programme is built on the following principles: 

• Strong Foundations – Children start by building the strength and posture  they need for writing. This means better pencil grip and less frustration.
• Easy-to-Learn Patterns – Letters are taught in groups based on similar movements, so children quickly understand how to form them.
• Confidence and Enjoyment – Writing becomes something children look forward to, not something they worry about.
• Fluent, Neat Writing – As they progress, children learn to join letters smoothly and write with ease.

Kinetic Letters uses movement, play, and practice to make handwriting engaging. It’s designed to support every child, helping them develop a skill that will benefit them for life.

Please take a look at the link above to find out a little bit more about the Kinetic Letters programme. Once you child has joined the school you will receive more information about this programme via Class Dojo, and Mrs. Wethered will also lead a parent session to explain more about how we use Kinetic Letters at Graffham.

National Phonics Check  

During the Summer term in Year 1 children are assessed on their ability to blend phonemes together to read a selection of real and pseudo words. There are 40 words and children need to read at least 32 of these correctly to pass. 

The test checks whether children can apply phonics to decode accurately.  

Children who do not pass the test in Year 1 are provided with additional support and retake the test in Year 2.