Phonics is the gateway to reading and writing, life-long skills that pave the way to success both in school and beyond. It is through phonics that our children learn to decode written letters and spoken sounds.  At Holmer Green, we teach phonics using a scheme called 'Read Write Inc.' (RWI) Fresh Start.

Read Write Inc. Fresh Start is a whole-school literacy programme designed and developed by Ruth Miskin, one of the country’s leading authorities on teaching children to read.  The programme aims to help all children learn to read fluently and at speed, so they can focus on developing their skills in comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. 

When a child joins Holmer Green Junior School, their reading and phonetic ability is assessed within the first few weeks. If the child has gaps in their knowledge of phonics or is struggling to read fluently, these gaps will be taught through either whole class sessions or through individual or group interventions.

At Holmer Green Junior School we have invested significantly in the training of teachers and teaching assistants to carry out the programme effectively with small groups of children. These groups are organised according to their specific needs, and the specific sounds and letters are taught in fun and engaging ways.

As children progress through the levels, they are assessed every half term to ensure they are placed in groups most appropriate for them.

We are delighted to report Read Write Inc. Fresh Start is already making an impact with many children making accelerated progress.

Key sounds taught

Sounds are taught in 3 sets in 'Read Write Inc'.

Set 1 Speed Sounds:

Set 1 Speed Sounds are the first group of sounds, which contain sounds written with one letter:

m  a   s   d   t   i   n   p   g   o   c   k   u   b   f   e   l   h   r   j   v   y   w   z   x

and sounds written with two letters (your child will call these ‘special friends’):

sh   th   ch   qu   ng   nk   

Your child will learn to blend these sounds into words, e.g. 

m–a–t mat, 

f–i–sh fish,

s–p–l–a–sh splash.

If you would like to practise these sounds with your child at home, please watch the following clips:

m https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/WiarKHqm/rEHO67K7

a https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/NNn2FnWu/NsJTdCfL

s https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/bM9zsPIO/d4nVOuYz

d https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Sa2TUlvD/2sC9dL5p

t https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/q2wmp0Ny/eanIsXZN

i https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/yRlFNL5I/UhbpmSLn

n https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/w8ynw15f/d59vNo0h

p https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/3X9Nc3wL/zYyBrzCq

g https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/3X9Nc3wL/zYyBrzCq

o https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/70grIPNu/hRTuj7xL

c https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/LlQoQObP/XJWe1GKV

k https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/7zgXoqbl/OK4H00hJ

u https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/seUOG5OF/ld8cKGfh

b https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/ZtAcn369/ZJMT1kzR

f https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/iAr9WkGQ/RhuWHuSq

e  https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/CGNiFSDa/dBv4TMbB

l https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/C2z1Dbv0/xuAgJS9I

h https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/inhj9H8M/Nuudb8Z5

r https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/ASvotkzP/c4XFu9y6

j https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/WGZSN30S/jMsVodVJ

v https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Opx1wB4H/4UQvILZg

y https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/mcNL14k6/4yv6qL2i

w https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/SfpllkR8/o7zHAUtO

z https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/uMkRPLQV/QuXjOp0s

x https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/MGN293aw/la7tSOvY

Set 1 Best Friends

sh https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/X5BKZQVR/Oec9wQM5

th https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/jZAffuiM/7rQHgiqT

ch https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/ybZuyedn/iEwFnceC

qu https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/mBzFaoJF/l846ejyS

ng https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/dmkLroDf/fMimEHOm

nk https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/R6eORpec/qPTBWTDC

Set 2 Speed Sounds:

Once your child has mastered reading Set 1 Speed Sounds, they will then begin to learn Set 2 Speed Sounds. The following are Set 2 Speed Sounds:

ay   ee   igh   ow   oo (zoo)  oo (look)   ar   or   air   ir   ou   oy 

If you would like to practise these sounds with your child at home, please watch the following clips:

ay https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/BGZmA356/uySennxi

ee https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/uGyRr8Sk/az6koVzE

igh https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/Kvre2YIZ/e4hUTKgZ

ow https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/9VqSssj0/dSXAmH0O

oo (zoo) https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/RnjB5U6K/4nBu92R7

oo (look) https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/rYYpq1NK/XzIzvki1

ar https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/APfCH6cx/RFo3lcZh

or https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/vHB0T4ab/pYcUgt1L

air https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/0wJjoU3y/3CgAuLAd

ir https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/IDqdtv9g/JpRvEJPU

ou https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/y9Dmf6C6/l7kqop6o

oy https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/6eOcA2Al/kAotwW63

Set 3 Speed Sounds:

The final set of speed sounds that your child will learn are the Set 3 Speed Sounds. These are:

ea          oi           a-e         i-e          o-e         u-e        aw         are        ur          er              ow         ai           oa

ew         ire          ear        ure        tion       tious/cious

If you would like to practise these sounds with your child at home, please watch the following clips:

ea https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/PAVvQqxp/F3NqwIJ5

oi https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/JOU8G5EO/TtUTThJo

a-e https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/LkK7GdbF/n4J19ojn

i-e https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/9MHc5pHQ/IU93y2zr

o-e https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/rmVS3oeu/xidRLwmD

u-e https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/BOig2tGX/XrPxAIIo

aw https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/VfPBZRs7/FN0YgDtA

are https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/JFWH2P8B/HB1nTB9J

ur https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/vFw15ruh/D6s11rOU

er https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/7IikBQFL/xAfQAzkn

ow https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/FZljqK7l/zWf4DV2n

ai https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/l9qFpHDl/OaD26G92

oa https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/tEqq25Rq/c4ZfiOnw

ew https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/e41Uq3SV/9ppKfpmL

ire https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/YAiSUjM7/m36WBe9H

ear https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/l33NTqFo/MtRvxpo1

ure https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/oXevzdG6/wz5MCIrL

tion https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/uChOx41Y/2JNMOPDQ

tious/cious https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/training/view/MXXpMZM6/6eedAuye