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Why did Anchorsholme Academy choose FFT Phonics Success for All?
School leaders at Anchorsholme Academy were looking for a programme, developed by a trusted name in the education sector, that provided high expectations and a structured and consistent approach to teaching phonics throughout the school.
The programme’s proven track record of improving reading outcomes was a key factor in the school’s decision to choose it. School leaders and staff recognised the vital importance of equipping pupils with the reading skills required to access the curriculum and to develop as confident and enthusiastic readers.
FFT Success for All Phonics offers comprehensive resources, effective support with implementation and a commitment to ongoing CPD. These were all key factors influencing the school’s decision to adopt the programme.
Amy Hylton
Assistant Headteacher
Our phonics assessments quickly showed the impact of the programme and our last Ofsted recognised the journey we were on in ensuring our pupils became fluent, lifelong readers.
Co-operative learning standards are embedded in our school culture, which has had a hugely positive impact on behaviour for learning.
Our Year 1 phonics screening outcomes are supported by our use of Tutoring with the Lightning Squad and the FFT Reading Assessment programme, both of which are an integral part of our assessment and intervention strategy.
Staff share a passion for FFT Success for All Phonics and seeing Year 1 children skipping out of their classroom to complete their phonics screening check is testament to the levels of engagement, enjoyment and ultimately, confidence that FFT Phonics has given our pupils.
Implementing the programme
As a school that had previously used the original Success for All programme for phonics and reading, there were already systems and routines in place for delivery. Co-operative learning standards were embedded in our teaching and learning practice in and beyond the classroom.
With the introduction of the updated FFT Success for All Phonics programme, we took the same implementation model. All members of our EYFS team received training for the new programme and were the first year group to implement it. Support staff in the year group were also trained and received additional coaching from the Phonics Lead.
After the first block of teaching, EYFS staff made use of the FFT Reading Assessment Programme to assess pupils’ GPC recognition and decoding skills. This enabled pupils to be grouped according to their stage of learning. Regular drop-ins from the Success for All lead and our Phonics and Reading leaders ensured that the programme was being delivered effectively. In addition, staff in EYFS had an open-door policy for other staff who wanted to observe sessions to further develop their practice and to ensure consistency.
Following the successful implementation of the programme in EYFS, the FFT Success for All Phonics programme was rolled out into Year 1 and then Year 2 in subsequent years. The same approach to staff training, observations, coaching and assessment has fully supported staff with developing confidence and skill in the delivery of their phonics teaching. Alongside daily phonics and reading sessions, key members of staff were also trained on Tutoring with the Lightning Squad (TWL). This programme provides daily interventions for pupils that are identified as ‘not on track’.
As staff have developed their understanding of the programme and become highly skilled in its delivery, we have been able to provide in-house CPD for new staff and those leading groups or interventions so that Success for All Phonics and Co-operative Learning is now entirely embedded in our school culture and our phonics and reading curriculum.
Progress made
We have seen our phonics and reading outcomes consistently above national averages for several years since adopting FFT’s Success for All Phonics programme.
Staff have become far more confident in the teaching of phonics and reading and can identify areas of challenge through robust assessment, which feeds seamlessly into our intervention programme.
The quality of texts that our pupils are engaging with provides a much greater challenge and richer vocabulary, which is having a positive impact on pupils’ writing and ability to communicate across the curriculum.
This is reflected in the school's Summer 2025 Year 1 Phonics Screening Check results, where pupils achieved an impressive 89% pass rate.
A spotlight on pupil progress at Anchorsholme Academy
Child A, aged six, has global developmental delay. They respond well to visual aids and enjoy accessing materials on the iPad. Before introducing FFT Success for All Phonics and FFT Tutoring with the Lightning Squad, Child A had demonstrated very little progress and was struggling to access daily phonics sessions.
Following use of FFT’s Reading Assessment Programme, it was identified that Child A was able to recognise some GPCs but was struggling to decode CVC words. Supported by their one-to-one support, Child A has made leaps in progress using TWL. They are now able to fluently read CVC words and decode simple sentences.
A dual approach has been implemented, which means that TWL sessions are consolidated using FFT Phonics resources and Routes to Reading texts. Success in phonics and TWL sessions is fostering greater interest and enthusiasm from Child A and is encouraging greater confidence and independence with their learning.