At St Mary Magdalene's, we teach phonics through Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS), a systematic and rigorous programme that supports children in becoming confident, fluent readers and writers. Through daily phonics lessons, children learn to recognise, blend and segment sounds, enabling them to decode words accurately and develop strong early reading skills.

Pupil progress is carefully monitored and assessed using Phonics Tracker, allowing staff to identify next steps quickly and provide targeted support where needed. Additional practice and intervention ensure that every child is given the best possible opportunity to achieve success in reading.

Our aim is for every child to develop the knowledge, confidence and fluency needed to become enthusiastic, lifelong readers.