Developing Phonics with Twinkl - Trimley St Martin Primary

What did we do?

We researched available accredited and non- accredited schemes for phonics. After careful discussion and reflection we adopted the “Twinkl” phonic scheme. (which at the time was not DfE accredited (it is now).

All KS 1 staff attended online virtual training run by Twinkl and throughout the run inset training run by the English Lead (who is also the Implementation Lead) and the Early phonics team. Daily lessons of phonics were planned and resourced using the online resources and interactive teaching tools. As a school we looked at how this would then translate into reading, writing and handwriting.

We changed our homework to include the activities for at home related to the new learning of the week and each week would print the mini book for home reading relating to the sounds learnt that week. We adapted our flashcards and sound mats to the “Song of Sounds” song. We used a Teaching Assistant with a degree in graphic design to design the flashcards and sound mats and handwriting instructions so that these would all match the new Twinkl phonics.

“This has totally changed how I teach phonics, it is much more in-depth and everything relates to each other”

Reception teacher

“Reading at home is so much easier with my child, he uses the sounds he has learnt and loves the Rhino Readers online”

Parent

“I actually stay in class for phonics as it is easy now”

SEND child in Y2

Summary of impact

Planning, resourcing for phonics is easier and more meaningful in each class.

Year 1 teacher who was less experienced in teaching phonics found the format easy to follow and use and ensured a more consistent approach to teaching of phonics within this class and across the Key stage.

Lesson Observations of phonics saw improvements in consistency.

Regular training supported phonics taught as whole class and as interventions by teachers and/or teaching assistants.

Phonics screening results improved to 85% passing test.

Throughout the project have adapted handwriting teaching and practice to make phonics scheme, the home reading to include mini books from Twinkl and the on-line reading of the Rhino readers.

Steps taken

Initial research to identify a scheme that would work for us a school.
On-line training for the provider and regular training by English and phonic leads.
Auditing our reading scheme
Auditing our handwriting provision
Auditing our reading communication between home and school
New scheme introduced into the classroom
New handwriting provision/teaching and resources
New reading App- GoRead

What would we do differently

I can offer these word of wisdom…

If you have completed your research and a new scheme seems to fit with your areas for development and it is not accredited by an authority but you know it is right for your school, you sometimes have to take the plunge and do it.

We would have all the aspects- the teaching, the handwriting, the reading, the homework all in place and set before starting instead of the more gradual improvements we had as we worked through the project to have a bigger impact.

Cost

Full Twinkl access- £1,043.90

training package- £67.04- £200

Additional TA time

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