Learning to Read in Lower School

At CPS, in Reception, we teach the children to read and write using an early systematic phonics programme. This is the Jolly Phonics scheme. This ensures that the children are taught the main 42 sounds of English, not just the alphabet sounds. The children are taught using actions, written tasks and rhymes in a fun and interactive way.

In Year One the Jolly Grammar scheme is used which builds on the sounds covered in Reception. The children are systematically shown how to combine sounds/phonemes to make words and to segment the words into their constituent sounds. This is achieved through whole class, group and individual teaching.

A large variety of activities and games are used to reinforce target phonemes/spelling patterns in a way which maintains the children's interest.