Phonics Scheme

Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language.
Written language can be compared to a code, so knowing the sounds of individual letters and how those letters sound when they’re combined will help children decode words as they read.

Understanding phonics will also help children know which letters to use when they are writing words.  At Beech Hill, we have recently adopted the Sounds-Write phonics programme which is taught from Reception through to Year 2.  We use Sounds-Write as an intervention in Key Stage 2 as an additional support to children who require it.

Curriculum Provision, Content and Approach

Beech Hill Community Primary School follows the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the National Curriculum in Years 1 to 6.

Our EYFS department incorporates our Nursery and Reception Classes. Activities and resources are carefully planned to allow for both adult and child-initiated, play-centred learning experiences. In the EYFS there are three prime areas of learning; communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. These prime areas are strengthened and applied through the four specific areas of literacy, maths, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

High priority is placed on the acquisition and development of English and Maths skills which are taught in each Key Stage 1 and 2 class each morning. Other subjects such as History, Geography, Design and Technology are delivered as discrete subjects but are given context through themed units of study where appropriate. This thematic approach allows the children to continuously use literacy and numeracy skills in many different subjects. Computing is also taught as a discrete subject and there is specialist teaching throughout the year. Spanish is taught as a modern foreign language from Year 3 upwards. At the beginning of each term, parents receive a summary of the curriculum their child will be studying and recommendations are made as to how parents can support learning at home. To find out more about our curriculum, please contact the school office who will transfer you to the relevant department. To access our schools accessibility plan, click here.