Each year in June, all eligible Year 1 pupils participate in the phonics screening check and some Year 2 pupils will resit it if they did not pass when they were in Year 1. If children are absent during this week, then they will complete the check during variation week (the week after). What Is the Phonics Screening Check? The phonics screening …
Is your child in Year 1? If they are, they are probably going to be participating in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check in June. But what is it? How can you support your child? Here are five things you need to know and five ways you can help your child. Before we get into it, we are going to be using some phonics jargon in this post, so we’ve included a …
Five Things Every Year 1 Parent/Carer Should Know About the Phonics Screening Check. Read More »
Each year in May, all eligible Year 6 pupils are assessed using the KS2 SATs papers. This includes the reading paper. Here is an analysis of past papers and some top tips and resources for preparing your pupils. What is involved in the KS2 Reading SATs paper? The KS2 Reading SATs paper is an assessment with three texts of differing genres and …
Statutory Assessment Series: Predictions and Preparation for the KS2 SATs Reading Paper Read More »
Like many educators, we eagerly awaited the release of the Writing Framework with our highlighters and post-it notes at the ready. In this blog post, we share seven key takeaways from the spelling section, along with our thoughts and how Spelling Shed aligns with it. 1. Spelling is key in releasing memory space for writing One of …
What Does the Writing Framework Say About Spelling? 7 Things You Need to Know Read More »
When we think of phonics, we might think about our systematic, synthetic phonics programme that often ends at Key Stage One, but should phonics really end there? The simple answer is no. Phonics is a key part of reading and spelling beyond Key Stage One. Here are eight key takeaways of why phonics is important for all children. Read part one of this blog …
How to Teach Spelling Effectively – Part Two: Phonics for All (8 Key Takeaways) Read More »
Cornerstone C of E Primary School is a wonderful Phonics Shed and Spelling Shed Showcase School based in Fareham, Hampshire. We spoke to them to find out the impact that EdShed has had at their school. We are a rapidly growing primary school, set to become a full three-form entry institution. Currently, we have approximately …
The Impact of Phonics Shed and Spelling Shed at Cornerstone C of E Primary School Read More »
Early Years educator, phonics specialist and author, Katie Whitehead (known to her followers as Phonics Family), shares her advice for developing vital pre-reading skills. In the UK, conversations about school readiness are louder than ever. The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has declared it a national priority with ambitious targets. For example, 75% of five-year-olds being …
Find out how Danesfield Primary School are using Phonics Shed to improve results in their school.
Dare we say it, but the 2025 Reading SATs paper marks a welcome shift from the challenges of the past two years. The paper was still long, so children who struggle with stamina may have found it tough. However, from our perspective, it felt more straightforward than in previous years. After the notoriously difficult 2023 …
An adventure story about creating a story culture in school… I am not a great writer, but I enjoy it. Here is my attempt at an adventure story. Please take the time to have a little read. The adventurer struggled to place one foot in front of the other; each step on the burning sand …
