Reading and Phonics

What Is Read Write Inc. Phonics? 

Read Write Inc. (RWI) is a fun and structured phonics programme designed to help young children learn to read and write confidently. Created by Ruth Miskin, it’s used in many schools across the UK and is especially helpful for children aged 4 to 7 as they begin their reading journey. 

The programme breaks reading down into manageable steps, using engaging books, memorable characters, and playful activities to make learning enjoyable and effective. 

How Does It Work? 

RWI teaches children to read using phonics, which means learning the sounds that letters and groups of letters make. Here’s how it helps: 

• Set 1, 2 and 3 Sounds: Children learn sounds in stages, starting with simple ones and moving to more complex combinations. 

• Special Friends: These are two or three letters that make one sound, like “sh” or “igh”. 

• Fred Talk: Fred the Frog helps children sound out words. He says the sounds (like c-a-t), and children blend them to say the word (cat). 

• Fred in Your Head: As children get better, they learn to blend sounds silently in their heads before saying the word aloud. 

What Will My Child Bring Home? 

Children bring home a variety of reading materials matched to their current level: 

• Storybooks they’ve read at school for extra practice. 

• Book Bag Books with activities and guidance for parents. 

• Speed Sound Cards to practise reading sounds quickly. 

• Red Word Pages with tricky words that don’t follow regular phonics rules. 

• Picture Books to enjoy together—perfect for building a love of stories. 

How Can Families Help at Home? 

Supporting your child is easy and rewarding! Here are some top tips: 

• Read with your child every day—let them read to you and enjoy stories together. 

• Use Fred Talk during daily routines (e.g., “Time for b-e-d!”). 

• Practise Speed Sound cards and Red Words. 

• Encourage handwriting with fun challenges like “How many sounds can you write in a minute?” 

• Help with spelling using Fred Fingers—children tap out sounds on their fingers before writing. 

• Regular reading- remember to log on Learning With Parents 

Building Language and Confidence 

RWI also encourages rich language development. Families can help by: 

• Talking lots during everyday activities. 

• Using ambitious vocabulary (e.g., “enormous” instead of “big”). 

• Making up stories together—no need to write them down! 

Want to Learn More? 

There are brilliant parent videos and resources available at ruthmiskin.com/en/parents to help you understand the programme and support your child at home. 

Read Write Inc. is more than just a reading scheme—it’s a joyful way to help children become confident readers and writers, with plenty of support for families every step of the way. Let the reading adventures begin! 

Hooked on Books: Year 1- Year 6 

What Is Hooked on Books by Jane Considine? 

Hooked on Books is a whole-school reading approach created by education expert Jane Considine. It’s designed to help children develop a deep love of reading while building strong comprehension, vocabulary, and discussion skills. The programme is used in many primary schools to make reading exciting, meaningful, and accessible for all children. 

Key Features of Hooked on Books 

 Daily Demonstration Reading 

Each day, the teacher reads aloud a high-quality text to the whole class, modelling fluent, expressive reading. This helps children: 

• Hear what great reading sounds like 

• Understand how to use tone, pace, and expression 

• Build listening and comprehension skills 

• Fall in love with stories and language 

Book Talk 

Children take part in structured discussions about what they’ve read. They learn to: 

• Share opinions and ideas 

• Make predictions and inferences 

• Explore characters, settings, and themes 

• Use evidence from the text to support their thinking 

 

Hooked on Books: 3-Day Reading Cycle 

To help children become confident, thoughtful readers, Hooked on Books uses a structured 3-day cycle that teaches comprehension skills in a fun and purposeful way. Each day has a different focus: 

Day 1: Big Picture 

On the first day, children explore the overall meaning and feel of the text. They listen to the teacher read aloud and begin to understand the story’s mood, characters, and themes. This helps them: 

• Get excited about the book 

• Understand the story as a whole 

• Make predictions and ask questions 

• Build curiosity and engagement 

It’s all about setting the scene and sparking interest. 

Day 2: Reading Like a Detective 

Now children dig deeper! They become text detectives, searching for clues and evidence to answer questions. This day focuses on shared comprehension, where children work together to: 

• Spot key words and phrases 

• Use high-utility vocabulary to explain their ideas 

• Make inferences and retrieve facts 

• Think critically about what they’ve read 

It’s a great way to practise the skills needed for assessments and real-world reading. 

Day 3: Demonstration Comprehension 

On the final day, the teacher models how to answer comprehension questions clearly and effectively. Children learn how to: 

• Structure their answers 

• Use evidence from the text 

• Apply the skills they’ve practised 

• Tackle test-style questions with confidence 

This day helps children see exactly how to turn their thinking into strong written responses. 

Together, these three days help children build a deep understanding of texts, develop rich vocabulary, and become confident readers who can talk and write about what they read. It’s a powerful cycle that turns reading into a skill for life! 

How Families Can Support at Home 

• Talk about books your child is reading at school 

• Ask open-ended questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” 

• Read aloud together and model expressive reading 

• Encourage your child to explain their ideas using evidence from the text 

Hooked on Books turns reading into a shared adventure—one where children learn to think deeply, speak confidently, and most importantly, enjoy books. It’s not just about learning to read—it’s about becoming a reader for life.