At Burnside Primary School, we believe that fluent reading and confident handwriting are the foundational keys that unlock the entire curriculum. From a child's very first day in Nursery and Reception, we deliver a progressive, integrated approach to phonics, early reading, and handwriting that empowers every pupil to thrive, achieve, and belong.
Our Phonics, Early Reading, and Handwriting provision is explicitly structured around our school motto: be safe, be smart, be kind.
How Our Provision Reflects Our Values
Be Safe: Early reading and handwriting are anchored in structured, encouraging routines. By providing a low-pressure environment where fine motor skills and letter-sound recognition are built step-by-step, children feel safe to try, make mistakes, and build the confidence needed to thrive.
Be Smart: Mastering phonics decoding, expanding vocabulary, and developing fluent, legible handwriting give children the essential tools to communicate effectively and achieve academic success across all subjects.
Be Kind: Shared stories and collaborative literacy activities foster empathy, active listening, and respect for others' ideas, nurturing a strong sense of community and belonging.
Read Write Inc. Phonics & Early Reading
To ensure all pupils learn to read fluently and accurately, we follow the systematic synthetic phonics programme Read Write Inc. (RWI).
Daily Phonics Sessions: Delivered daily in EYFS and Key Stage 1, children learn the 44 common sounds in the English language, blending phonemes to read and segmenting them to spell.
Decodable Books: Children take home phonetically decodable RWI Book Bag Books matched precisely to their current phonics stage, alongside a picture book to share at home for pleasure.
Targeted KS2 Support: Pupils in Key Stage 2 who require continued phonics support receive daily small-group sessions and targeted Fast Track Phonics interventions.
Handwriting & Progression
At Burnside Primary, handwriting is taught systematically to ensure pupils develop comfortable pencil grip, correct letter formation, and clear presentation.
EYFS to Year 3 (Read Write Inc. Handwriting): Handwriting is taught alongside phonics using the Read Write Inc. handwriting framework. In EYFS, we focus on developing gross and fine motor strength before introducing specific RWI mnemonics and phrases to guide correct letter formation as each sound is learned. This structure continues through Key Stage 1 and Year 3 to consolidate consistent letter sizing, correct starting points, and clear printing.
Years 4 to 6 (Nelson Handwriting): As pupils move into upper Key Stage 2, they transition to the Nelson Handwriting scheme. This structured approach teaches children clear, fluent, and legibly joined handwriting, developing speed, stamina, and pride in presentation across all written work.