We expect every child to develop a strong foundation in phonics, enabling them to decode words confidently, read fluently, and build a lifelong love of reading.

At St John’s, we believe that reading is the foundation of all learning and that every child should become a confident, fluent, and enthusiastic reader. Through Bug Club Phonics, we aim to provide a systematic and engaging approach to teaching early reading. Our aim is to ensure that all pupils develop strong phonological awareness and decoding skills, enabling them to read fluently and with understanding as early as possible. We want every child to foster a lifelong love of reading, opening doors to learning across the curriculum and beyond.

We follow the Bug Club Phonics programme, delivering daily, high-quality phonics sessions in Early Years and Key Stage 1. Lessons are fast-paced, interactive, and carefully structured to build on prior learning. Children are taught new sounds and spelling patterns in a consistent order, with opportunities to apply these skills through reading and writing activities.

Alongside classroom teaching, children access Bug Club’s online reading platform, where they can enjoy a wide range of decodable eBooks matched precisely to their phonics stage. This home–school link reinforces learning and supports parents in helping their children practise reading in a fun, engaging way.

We expect children to develop the confidence and skills to decode unfamiliar words independently, leading to fluency and comprehension. The consistent, structured approach ensures that all pupils—regardless of background or starting point—make strong progress in reading.

Our scheme ensures our children are well prepared for the Phonics Screening Check at the end of Year 1. Most importantly, our pupils see themselves as readers: they enjoy books, talk about stories with enthusiasm, and use their reading skills to access all areas of the curriculum.