At St Margaret Mary's Catholic Primary School, we believe that reading is one of God’s greatest gifts—a way to discover truth, beauty, and goodness. Through reading, children encounter stories that inspire faith, deepen understanding, and open hearts to the world around them. Our intent is to nurture confident, fluent readers who not only decode words but also delight in meaning. We teach phonics systematically to build strong foundations, while fostering a love of literature that reflects our Catholic values. 

Reading is the golden thread woven through our school as it unlocks the curriculum both now, into secondary school and life.  To give a child the gift of reading is to give them the ability to learn for the rest of their life. Our approach to the teaching of reading is through the Read, Write, Inc Phonics programme.

We work alongside the Orgill English Hub English Hub | Orgill Primary School and Read, Write Inc  Development Days - Ruth Miskin Literacy where specialists monitor and support with phonics' training and pupil assessment every half term.

WHAT IS RWI?

Read Write Inc (RWI) is a phonic based programme which helps children learn to read, whilst also developing a wide range of vocabulary and encouraging a love of stories. The RWI programme developed by Ruth Miskin, provides a whole school approach to the teaching of reading. The programme creates fluent readers, confident speakers and willing writers.

WHO IS READ WRITE INC FOR?

The Read Write Inc programme is for primary school children learning to read. The children begin the programme in Reception and our aim is that most children will be off the programme by the end of Year 2 (those children in Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 who are assessed as still needing to access phonics' support do so via interventions). Following rigorous assessments every 8 weeks, children are grouped according to their reading ability. They will then be taught in groups of similar ability, for 45 minutes each day. This enables us to teach our children more effectively as the work is pitched at the correct level. During this time children learn new sounds and practise reading and spelling words. They also read storybooks, which are perfectly matched to their reading ability. A few children who need extra support to maintain progress will receive extra one to one tuition from highly skilled teaching assistants for about ten minutes per day.

MEET FRED

This is Fred the Frog. When children are first learning to read they need to hear the sounds in words and blend them together. This is called oral blending. Fred helps them to do this as he only talks in sounds. Children in Preschool and Reception love to listen to Fred. You will soon hear lots about Fred Talk and Fred Fingers which help children to spell. There are games you can do at home to help us in school.

STORY TIME

Story time is an essential part of your child’s reading journey. Reading to your child is one of the most valuable things you can do as a parent because children learn so much about reading, the conventions of how to hold a book, vocabulary, listening skills, enjoyment, watching as an audience, answering questions, engaging with characters and pictures, emotion and, most importantly, being nurtured. Listening to stories will help your child to foster of love of stories and help develop their vocabulary.  We read, enjoy and share stories every day with children from Nursery upwards.

HELP AND SUPPORT FOR PARENTS

There are lots of ways to support your child when learning to read. Please go to the RWI website Home - Ruth Miskin Literacyor click Learning to read at home - Ruth Miskin Literacy to access the parents page especially designed for parents and carers. Read Write Inc also have a Facebook page with lots of ideas for parents/carers which can be found at Ruth Miskin Training | Facebook