What is Read, Write Inc. Phonics?

Read Write Inc. Phonics is a whole-school approach to teaching children to read and write. At Carlton Primary children start the programme in Reception and progress through until they are fluent readers. It integrates phonics with comprehension, writing, spelling and handwriting. In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children have a daily phonics lesson followed by a reading lesson (when ready) to allow them to apply their phonics.

Parent Video: What is Read Write Inc. Phonics?

Read Write Inc. Programme progression:

All children are assessed half termly supported by our RWInc. lead teacher (Mrs Burton) so they work at an appropriate level suited to their needs.

In Reception all children:

  • Learn to say, read and write Set 1 sounds.
  • Write sounds using correct letter formation – we do not use letter names at this stage.
  • Begin to read and write simple, decodable words.
  • Listen to and talk about a range of quality texts read by the teacher.
  • Begin to read ‘red’ words.
  • Begin to read simple sentences.

In Year 1 all children:

  • Learn to say, read and write Set 2 and Set 3 sounds.
  • Write sounds using correct letter formation – we introduce letter names in Set 3.
  • Begin to spell using known sounds.
  • Listen to and talk about a range of quality texts read by the teacher.
  • Begin to read with fluency and expression.
  • Read books which are closely matched to their developing phonic knowledge.


By the end of Year 2 we aim for all children to become accurate and fluent readers.

Reading – ‘Fred Talk’                                                                           

Fred the Frog plays an important role in our Read Write Inc lessons. Fred is only able to speak in pure sounds, not whole words. We call this Fred Talk.  For example, Fred would say m – a – t and we would say mat.

Fred talk helps children read unfamiliar words by pronouncing each sound in the word one at a time. Children can start blending sounds into words as soon as they know a small group of letters well. During lessons children are taught to hear sounds and blend them together in sequence to make a word. We start with blending oral sounds, then progress to reading the letters and blending them together to read the word.

How to pronounce pure sounds

Learn how to pronounce all 44 phonics sounds, or phonemes used in Read Write Inc.

How to blend sounds to read words

Read Write Inc Sets, Sounds and Rhymes

How can I support my child at home?

It is evidenced in neuro-science that the more a person practises a new skill the stronger the neuronal pathways become proving that ‘Practise makes permanent’.

You can support your child at home by:

  • Listening to them read daily.
  • Practising saying the sounds and their rhymes (try making it fun for you and your child by using different voices).
  • Spotting ‘Special Friends’ in words (you could do this when shopping or visiting somewhere).
  • Using ‘Fred Talk’ when learning a new word.
  • Blending sounds together when reading.

Read Write Inc. guide for parents:

https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/read-write-inc-phonics-guide/