1. Literacy: Phonics, Reading and Writing

2. Literacy The Foundation Stage Curriculum is made up of seven areas; three prime and four specific. Literacy is one of the specific areas. In the Foundation Stage Curriculum Literacy is broken down into two aspects: Writing Reading

3. Phonics Phonics is a way of teaching children to read quickly and skilfully. We teach children to:- Recognise the sounds each individual letter makes. Identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make – ‘ch’ or ‘ar’. Blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word. Children can then use this knowledge to ‘de-code’ new words that they hear or see. This is the first important step in learning to read. Learning to Read Through Phonics, DFE, 2013

4. Phoneme s It is very important to say the sounds correctly in order to support segmenting and blending. Pronunciation is very important! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= 5J2Ddf_0Om8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= BqhXUW_v-1s These videos show how to pronounce the Phase 2 and Phase 3 sounds correctly.

5. Reading (Development Matters in the EYFS, BAECE, 2012)

6. Phonics and reading in school We share books every day as a class. Daily phonics lessons to teach new sounds and practice blending and segmenting. Checking that the children understand what they have read. (Their comprehension) Modelling how to use books: Which way to hold them, turn pages, following the text with your finger, looking at the text and pictures. Using story sacks to retell and model story language. Guided reading later on in the year.

7. Phonics and reading How can I support my child at home? Listening moments – can the children hear sounds in the environment Play I spy, can you find an item beginning with …? Adapt the game I spy a d-o-g. Can the child blend the sounds. Share rhymes and stories Segment words in play, stories, rhymes and discussions – dog, pig, man. Play with magnetic letters, say the sounds. Make sounds from play dough. When sharing books look at the front cover, read the title, talk about what the book might be about, use your finger to point to the text to support that print runs from left to right top to bottom. Re-enact stories and encourage the use of story language. You could even wear costumes and take phots or video the performance!

8. Phonics and reading How can I support my child at home? Develop a love of books and the special time of reading together! The library is great for this! Spot signs and labels when out and about. Practise the sounds regularly, discuss letter names as well and also capital letters. Read exciting books together daily, children love this special time! Use your voice to add expression and don’t worry about feeling silly, children love this! Find a quiet place and time and read daily with the scheme books your child has in their book bag. Books can be read more than once to support fluency, confidence and understanding. Talk about new and unfamiliar words and their meanings. Check your child understands what they have read. Ask about the characters, main events and sequence of the story. Discuss how the character might be feeling and why. Ask the child to give you an opinion of the books and consider why they think this. Model blending words – if they find it difficult say the first sound louder than the rest, say them closer together and faster until it blends into a word.

9. Writing (Development Matters in the EYFS, BAECE, 2012)

10. Useful websites - ICT games http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html http://www.ictgames.com/literacy.html Phonics play http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/Phase2Menu.htm http://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/Phase2Menu.htm Alphablocks http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/alphablocks/game s/alphablocks-games http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/alphablocks/game s/alphablocks-games Bookstart (Online stories and tips for reading with children) http://www.bookstart.org.uk/have-some- fun/#/static/bookstart/have-some-fun/ http://www.bookstart.org.uk/have-some- fun/#/static/bookstart/have-some-fun/ Oxford Owl (Tips and free e-books you may enjoy sharing at home) http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/welcome/for- home/reading-owl/reading http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/welcome/for- home/reading-owl/reading Barefoot books (Online stories and rhymes to share) http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ba refoot+books http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ba refoot+books The National Literacy Trust (Tips and ideas for reading) http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/http://www.wordsforlife.org.uk/