Big Growth in Small Steps

Little Learners, Big Readers: The Power of Phonics and CVC Blending

At Foundation, our students are taking exciting first steps on their reading journey! We use a structured phonics approach through programs like Little Learners Love Literacy to help every student build strong foundations in reading and writing.

What is Phonics?

Phonics is about teaching children the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes). This helps them decode words as they read and encode words when they write. Instead of guessing words or relying on pictures, children learn to sound out each part of a word.

Why Phonics Matters

• Builds Strong Foundations – Phonics gives students the tools to read unfamiliar words with confidence.
• Supports Reading and Spelling – Once they know the sounds, children can apply them in both reading and writing.
• Increases Independence – With decoding strategies, students no longer rely on memory or pictures to read.
• Improves Confidence and Fluency – Mastering phonics helps students feel successful, which leads to greater reading enjoyment.

CVC Words and Blending – What’s That?

A CVC word is a simple three-letter word that follows the pattern: Consonant–Vowel–Consonant (e.g., cat, dog, tip).Blending is the process of pushing sounds together to read a whole word.

For example:

• /s/ /a/ /t/ = sat
• /p/ /i/ /n/ = pin

We teach children to blend sounds fluently so they can hear and read the word as a whole, not just letter-by-letter.

How You Can Help at Home

• Keep it playful – Use magnetic letters, chalk, or even pebbles to build and blend simple words.
• Celebrate effort – Encourage your child even if they’re still sounding out slowly. It takes time!
• Practice together – Read LLL decodable books at home. These books match what we’re learning in class!
• Play sound games – Ask, “What sound can you hear at the start of sun?” or “Can you think of a word that rhymes with ‘log’?”

Let’s keep celebrating every success—one sound, one word, one book at a time.

Foundation Maths in Action: The Power of Hands-On Learning & Open-Ended Questions

At the Foundation level, Maths is more than just numbers – it’s about curiosity, exploration, and making sense of the world. In our classrooms, we use hands-on resources and open-ended questions to bring maths to life for our young learners.

Why Hands-On Resources Matter

Foundation students are concrete learners. They need to see, touch, and manipulate objects to understand new ideas. That’s why we use tools like counters, dice, number lines, ten frames, blocks, and shapes during our maths sessions. These resources help students:

• Build a strong understanding of number concepts
• Stay engaged and motivated
• Learn through doing, not just listening
• Use mathematical language to explain their thinking
• Develop independence and confidence as problem-solvers

Hands-on materials give students the chance to physically explore maths in meaningful and playful ways.

The Power of Open-Ended Questions

In addition to hands-on activities, we ask open-ended questions that encourage students to think more deeply and creatively about maths. These questions often have more than one correct answer, which makes them accessible and exciting for every child.

Open-ended questions help students:

• Develop reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Build confidence by exploring their own strategies
• Use language to justify their thinking
• Work at their own level and pace
• Understand that mistakes are part of learning

What This Looks Like in the Classroom

Here are some of the questions we might ask:

• “How many different ways can you make the number 9?”
• “Can you find a pattern using blocks?”
• “What shapes can you build with 8 sticks?”
• “What do you notice if we add one more? What if we take one away?”

These kinds of questions spark rich conversations, encourage collaboration, and celebrate every student’s thinking.

How You Can Support at Home

Maths is everywhere! You can encourage open-ended maths thinking at home too:

• Ask questions like “How could we share these apples in different ways?” or “Can you build a tower that’s taller than this one?”
• Use everyday objects like buttons, pegs, or cutlery for counting and sorting.
• Celebrate your child’s ideas and strategies – there’s more than one way to solve a problem!

Together, we’re building strong mathematical thinkers who are curious, confident, and ready to take on the world.

What’s Coming Up in Foundation!

We’ve had a wonderful time exploring, learning, and growing together — and there’s even more excitement on the way!

Science Incursion – Coming Soon!

Get ready for some hands-on fun! Our budding scientists will be diving into a special science incursion where curiosity will take the lead. This interactive experience will spark questions, wonder, and a deeper love for how the world works. Stay tuned for photos and discoveries your little ones will be eager to share!

Milo’s Birthday Surprise – A Little Learners Adventure

Shhh… it’s a surprise! We’re about to embark on a very special celebration straight from the pages of our Little Learners Love Literacy program — Milo’s Birthday Surprise! This much-loved story supports early reading skills while creating joyful classroom moments. We’ll be combining literacy learning with fun birthday-themed activities your children won’t forget!

Keep your eyes peeled — more magical moments are just around the corner!

Emma Pei

Foundation PLC Leader

Jane Ryan

Foundation PLC Leader