At Northlew & Ashbury Primary School, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) Phonics programme to help every child develop strong early reading skills. RWI is a structured, systematic approach used widely across the UK. It teaches children to recognise sounds, link them to letters and blend them to read words, helping them build the foundations needed for confident, fluent reading and writing. The books children read are closely matched to the sounds they have learnt, allowing them to experience success and grow steadily in confidence as readers.

How We Teach RWI Phonics

Children take part in daily RWI sessions from Reception through to Year 2. Lessons follow a clear and consistent structure that includes revisiting previously taught sounds, learning new ones, practising word reading, and developing fluency through Storybooks linked to their learning. “Fred Talk” is used to support sounding out and blending, helping children become confident, independent readers. Spelling and handwriting activities are also linked to the sounds being taught, helping children make strong connections between reading and writing.

Children are assessed at the end of each half term and regrouped into small, targeted groups to ensure that children are working at the correct challenge point according to their reading stage.

As they begin Read Write Inc. (RWI) Phonics, children first learn to recognise and recall the Set 1 letter sounds before blending them to read simple words. They then move on to Set 2 and Set 3 sounds, which introduce more complex sounds and spelling patterns. As their knowledge grows, children progress through the RWI Storybooks in order, starting with simple decodable texts and gradually reading books with more challenging vocabulary. After completing the phonics programme, they move onto Read Write Inc. Comprehension, which develops their ability to understand, discuss and respond to increasingly complex, high‑quality texts. This structured pathway supports children to become accurate, fluent and confident readers.

Supporting Your Child at Home

Children take home reading books each week that are linked to the Storybook they have been reading in class and the sounds they know. This helps them practise reading successfully and with confidence. Parents can support their child by listening to them read regularly, practising sounds together and enjoying a range of stories at home. Re‑reading books is encouraged as it builds fluency, accuracy and expression.

Families can also log into their child’s Oxford Owl account to read the same Storybook online, develop fluency and complete a related quiz. Additional e‑Books are available to enjoy at home, and virtual classroom links are provided with RWI videos matched to each child’s group to reinforce learning.

Reading together as often as possible supports language development and a love of stories. Whether your child is reading to you or being read to, shared reading exposes them to new vocabulary, develops imagination and helps nurture a lifelong love of reading.