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Get to know some of the FFT Partner Schools improving their literacy.
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Why did Victoria Road Primary choose FFT Success for All Phonics?

Victoria Road Primary School, in Runcorn, has committed to FFT Success for All Phonics since February 2022.

The school have seen first-hand the impact that FFT’s phonics programme can have; the programme’s systematic approach to the teaching of phonics has been highly effective in enabling their children to become confident, fluent readers who demonstrate increasing stamina and expression.

Their children have an exceptionally positive attitude to reading and see themselves as readers. Not only are they able to effectively decode books, which are perfectly matched to their phonic knowledge, but they are able to discuss what they have read in detail. The rich and ambitious vocabulary in the decodable books gives children the opportunity to discover and discuss new words in context and this has had a positive impact on their vocabulary and overall language development.

The school has found having Tutoring with the Lightning Squad included as part of their subscription to be valuable. It has enabled them to offer a programme of intervention that aligns perfectly with their phonics programme and means that they really can ensure that no child is left behind.

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We believe in the programme and want to support other schools to do the same.

Gemma Neal

Phonics Lead

After years of using Letters and Sounds we made the switch to implement the FFT Success for All Phonics programme.

We prioritise phonics both in terms of our daily timetables and staff CPD. We now have a team of highly skilled adults who effectively deliver the programme throughout the school; all our staff receive weekly CPD for phonics, drawing on the materials available on the Phonics Portal and including frequent, deliberate practice.

Because we have invested time and effort into the programme, we have seen firsthand the impact that it can have. We believe in the programme and want to support other schools to do the same.

FFT Success for All has revolutionised the teaching of phonics in our school. We have seen the impact, not only in our phonics data, which is well above national for 2021-2022, but in our reading progress scores and in the number of children who achieve age-related expectations in Year 1. Our Year 3 children were a very challenging cohort, with high levels of need and deprivation. However, they have made great progress and all pupils passed the Phonics Screening Check at the end of KS1. We have also seen a really positive impact on teacher workload.”

Implementing the programme

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This year, the school has implemented the FFT Success for All Phonics programme after using Letters and Sounds for many years. They have invested heavily in resources to show fidelity to the programme. They are proactive in moving forward with phonics, reading and spelling. After seeing the benefits of using FFT Success for All Phonics in EYFS and Year 1, the school was keen to adopt Routes to Reading and Spelling with the Jungle Club for children in Years 2 & 3.
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92%

Phonics Screening 2024

86%

Phonics Screening 2023

63%

Phonics Screening 2022

Reading progress made

The school implemented the scheme in February 2022 across Reception then into Year 1 in September 2022. In two years, the scheme has had a significant impact on data with a 30% increase in the percentage of children passing the phonics screening check.

Spotlight on pupil progress

I can read really hard things and I know lots of beautiful words because I find them in my phonics book.

Year 1 pupil

I love Quick Erase. It helps me to be a fast and fluent reader and when I see those words in my reading book, I just know them – it’s like magic.

Year 1 pupil

The focus on fluency not only enhances reading proficiency but also instils confidence in pupils. Fun activities such as Quick Erase really help to do this in a way that engages all children.
I love reading about Pops and Ben! They love each other and I love them.

Year 1 pupil

My favourite part of the phonics lesson is where we review previously taught GPCs. I love it because it helps me remember what I know before I can learn something new.

Reception pupil

This PPG child initially struggled with school and focusing during carpet time. The consistency and pace of the FFT Success For All Phonic lesson, along with the engaging texts, have significantly improved his focus during carpet time and overall engagement in reading. Teachers have found it truly remarkable to see his progress.

Why are Victory Road Primary pleased with FFT Success for All Phonics?

Phonics Lead, Gemma Neal, highlights the benefits the school has seen since using the phonics programme:
FFT Success for All Phonics has revolutionised the teaching of phonics in our school. We have seen the impact, not only in our phonics data, which is well above national, but in our reading progress scores; last year in Year 1 all children made expected progress in reading with many exceeding their own personal targets.
Our children see themselves as readers. They are confident and fluent, and they can skilfully decode unfamiliar words using their ever-increasing phonic knowledge. The books that they are presented with match their phonic knowledge perfectly and this means that they constantly and consistently experience success as readers. The new titles that have just been added to the shared reader catalogue will really support children who need to overlearn and revisit their learning.
Children have been exposed to ambitious and rich vocabulary in context. This has given them the opportunity to explore the meaning of words that they would not have ordinarily encountered; the children have read these words repeatedly over the course of a week in school and then again when they have taken their shared reader home. This repeated exposure has resulted in these words becoming part of children’s vocabulary and has impacted positively on their language development.
We have developed expert staff who are able to deliver the programme to a consistently high standard. The CPD materials that are available on the phonics portal have really enabled school leaders to support staff.

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