Additional Parent/Carer Support for Phonics
We recognise how important it is for parents and carers to be involved in their child’s phonics journey. In Reception you will receive regular updates on your child’s Read Write Inc. group, Speed Sounds, and reading book level, so you can see how they are progressing. We encourage families to practise sounds at home, enjoy the RWI books together, and celebrate every success — no matter how small.
In Nursery, we also offer optional home learning linked to the sound of the week. Parents can support their child by going on sound walks, playing I-spy, and helping children to listen for and identify initial sounds in words. These playful, everyday activities build strong listening skills and help children develop an early awareness of sounds — a vital first step on their reading journey.
Read Write Inc. – A Guide for Parents and Carers
At Bewley Primary School, we use the Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme to teach phonics, early reading and writing across Nursery and Reception.
This structured, engaging approach helps children learn to read quickly and confidently, while developing a lifelong love of books.
What is Read Write Inc.?
Read Write Inc. is a systematic phonics programme developed by Ruth Miskin and used in thousands of schools across the country.
It teaches children to:
- Recognise letter sounds (known as Speed Sounds)
- Blend sounds together to read words (Fred Talk)
- Segment words to spell them
- Read fluently with expression and understanding
- Develop confidence and enjoyment in reading
What Happens in Nursery?
In Nursery, children begin their Read Write Inc. journey through short, fun daily sessions.
They:
- Develop strong listening and attention skills through songs, stories and games
- Play with sounds in words – for example, identifying rhymes and alliteration
- Practise oral blending and segmenting (Fred Talk) – e.g. “Can you find the c-a-t?”
- Begin to recognise some of the Set 1 Speed Sounds (e.g. m, a, s, d, t) when they are ready
These early experiences prepare children beautifully for formal phonics sessions in Reception.
What Happens in Reception?
In Reception, children have daily Read Write Inc. sessions in small groups, taught by trained staff.
They:
- Learn and practise Set 1 and Set 2 Speed Sounds
- Blend sounds to read simple words and sentences
- Read short, fully decodable RWI storybooks that match their phonics level
- Build fluency and understanding through repetition and storytelling
- Begin to write the sounds they know and form simple sentences
Children are regularly assessed to ensure they are learning at the right level and moved on as soon as they are ready.
Key Read Write Inc. Terms
- Speed Sounds: The individual sounds that letters and groups of letters make (e.g. a, sh, igh).
- Fred Talk: Saying each sound in a word to blend it together (e.g. c-a-t = cat).
- Fred Fingers: Using fingers to help segment and spell words when writing.
- Red Words: Common exception words that can’t be sounded out easily (e.g. the, said, my).
- Green Words: Decodable words that children can read using their phonics (e.g. shop, frog, paint).
How Can I Help at Home?
You can make a big difference to your child’s reading by:
- Practising Speed Sounds sent home each week
- Listening to your child read their RWI book several times for fluency and confidence
- Reading stories together for enjoyment and discussing what happens in the story
- Encouraging “Fred Talk” in everyday life – e.g. “Can you find your c-oa-t?”
- Celebrating effort and progress – every small step is a big achievement!
We will send regular updates about the sounds and books your child is learning, and you can find helpful videos and resources on the official Ruth Miskin Training website:
Our Aim
By following Read Write Inc. from Nursery through Reception, we ensure every child at Bewley Primary School learns to read with confidence and enjoyment.
We want all of our children to leave Early Years feeling Bright, Proud and Successful – ready to shine as fluent, enthusiastic readers.