Why We Use Bug Club Phonics at Tweseldown Infant School At Tweseldown Infant School, we are committed to giving every child the very best start in learning to read. That is why we have chosen Bug Club Phonics, a high-quality, systematic synthetic phonics programme that is validated by the Department for Education (DfE) and designed to help children become confident, fluent readers from the earliest stages of their education.

What is Bug Club Phonics? Bug Club Phonics is a structured programme that teaches children the relationship between letters and sounds in a clear, sequential way. Children learn how to: • Recognise letter sounds (phonemes) • Link sounds to written letters or groups of letters (graphemes) • Blend sounds together to read words • Segment words into sounds for spelling and writing • Develop confidence and fluency in reading.

The programme begins from the start of Reception and provides children with daily opportunities to practise and apply their phonics knowledge. Why is it so effective? Bug Club Phonics was developed by Professor Rhona Johnston MBE and Dr Joyce Watson, the researchers behind the renowned Clackmannanshire Study, which demonstrated the significant benefits of systematic synthetic phonics in helping children become successful readers. The programme follows a proven progression that supports rapid development of independent reading skills. As a DfE-validated programme, Bug Club Phonics has been independently assessed and shown to meet all the criteria for an effective systematic synthetic phonics programme.

Supporting Every Child One of the strengths of Bug Club Phonics is its inclusive approach. Children are taught together as a whole class wherever possible, promoting confidence, participation and a sense of belonging. Regular assessment helps teachers identify any gaps in learning quickly so that additional support can be provided when needed. This ensures that all children are supported to achieve success and develop a positive attitude towards reading. We teach phonics alongside phonological awareness. Children take part in Phonics Screening in year 1. Any pupils who do not pass are given additional phonics sessions in year 2.

Results over the past 3 years: As a result of our phonics taking a dip in Summer 2026 this is now a key area within our SDP with a key focus on • split vowels eg gate • Soft ‘c’ eg city (‘c’ is pronounced as a ‘s’)

• 2 syllable words eg window

• 3 syllable words eg beautiful

• Phonological awareness Fully Decodable Reading Books Children take home carefully matched Bug Club reading books that are fully decodable. This means that the words in the books contain only the sounds and letter patterns that children have already been taught in school. This allows pupils to practise their reading successfully, building fluency, confidence and enjoyment. Because the books closely match classroom teaching, children experience success from the very beginning, which is vital in developing lifelong readers.

Working Together with Parents Parents play a crucial role in supporting early reading. By hearing your child read regularly, celebrating their achievements and encouraging a love of stories, you can make a significant difference to their progress.

Bug Club Phonics provides children with exciting and engaging reading materials that can be enjoyed both at school and at home. Our Commitment Through Bug Club Phonics, we aim to ensure that every child develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to become a successful reader.

Reading opens the door to every area of learning, and we are proud to use a programme that is research-informed, DfE-validated and proven to help children achieve their full potential.

Together, we can help every child become confident, enthusiastic and successful.