Intent

At Burstow, we believe that reading is fundamental to pupils’ success and underpins learning across the curriculum. We place reading at the heart of school life and aim for all pupils to become fluent, confident and enthusiastic readers. Our vision is for every child to develop the skills, knowledge and enjoyment of reading that will enable them to access the wider curriculum and foster a lifelong love of books. 

To achieve this, we deliver the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme to ensure a consistent, systematic and structured approach to the teaching of early reading and writing. Pupils are taught to recognise sounds, blend to read words and segment to spell with increasing accuracy and confidence. Regular assessment ensures pupils are taught in groups matched to their phonics knowledge so that teaching is closely targeted and all children can make strong progress from their starting points. Carefully matched reading books allow pupils to apply their phonics knowledge, supporting the development of fluency and confidence as readers. 

Implementation

The Read Write Inc. (RWI) programme provides a consistent and systematic approach to the teaching of early reading and letter formation. Daily 45-minute, phonics lessons follow the structured RWI format and are delivered by trained staff to ensure fidelity to the programme. Pupils are assessed by the trained phonics champion regularly (6-8 weeks) and grouped according to their phonics knowledge so that teaching is closely matched to their stage of learning. Carefully matched reading books allow pupils to practise and apply their phonics knowledge, supporting the development of fluency, accuracy and confidence. Pupils take home RWI Book Bag Books to reinforce the sounds and words they are learning in school. Pupils in the Orange to Grey groups also take home the class storybook they have been reading in lessons, enabling them to re-read familiar texts at home to build confidence, fluency and expression. Consistent routines, high expectations and ongoing assessment ensure pupils make strong progress through the programme. 

Impact

Early reading is a strength at Burstow. In 2025, 72% of children achieved a Good Level of Development, above the national figure of 68.3%, and 85% of pupils met the expected standard in the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, exceeding the national figure of 80%. This strong performance reflects the consistent and robust implementation of the Read Write Inc. programme across the school.  Robust assessment systems, led by the Phonics Champion, ensure that pupils are grouped accurately and that movement between groups is responsive and timely