In this eLearning course, we will look to better understand the approaches to teaching word reading and spelling that are recommended for use in the Early Years Foundation Stage and the ways these approaches can be built upon within primary schools. This course has been designed in response to the government’s introduction of The Reading Framework: Teaching the Foundations of Literacy and is the third in a series of eLearning courses that are intended to provide a thorough exploration of the principles behind the framework, the implications it may have for schools and teachers, and offer practical strategies for anyone working with it. If you have not completed the first two courses in this series, then you may wish to do so before proceeding with this one as it will build upon the principles discussed in the first two Reading Framework eLearning courses.
This course is separated into four modules of learning:
Module One: Why Phonics?
In this module, you will review the reasons why the teaching of Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) has been identified as the most effective method for teaching early reading. We will discuss the key principles behind phonics, including revisiting some of the terminology used, and the ways that good phonetic knowledge can ensure rapid progress with literacy for all children, including those with additional needs.
Module Two: The Relationship Between Reading and Writing
In this module, you will further explore the importance of the teaching of phonics by considering the relationship between reading and spelling. We will identify the different phases in both decoding and encoding language and the ways that effective teaching of phonics can support children as they learn to do these processes independently. We will also consider the ways that other factors contribute to a child’s writing and how these should be addressed alongside the teaching of phonics.
Module Three: Phonics Within the School Day
In this module, we will explicitly consider the ways that phonics should be delivered by teachers throughout the school day. We will identify the best practices for the teaching of phonics in the Early Years Foundation stage and some of the factors that might hinder the impact of the teaching of phonics in schools. We will encourage you to reflect upon your current practices and identify the strengths and areas for development within these.
Module Four: Implications for Schools
In this module, we will provide an overview of the factors schools should consider when reviewing their teaching of reading and spelling in the Early Years Foundation Stage. We will highlight the recommendations made by The Reading Framework and the ways that these might require some schools to make changes to their current practices to ensure maximum impact.
Study time: 60 mins.
