The perfect place to flourish and grow

they are important for native wildlife and combating climate change. From Nursery to Year 6, every pupil had the opportunity to go out and help plant bushes to create a ‘Coronation Maze’ in our Sensory Garden. Alan Titchmarsh kindly got his welly boots on and hands dirty as he gave pupils tips on how to plant small privet hedges, so that they grow successfully.

We are certain that the children will have lovely memories of marking the Coronation of King Charles III at Churcher’s College Junior School & Nursery in years to come.

www.churcherscollege.com

As Year 1 pupils in England prepare to take the Phonics Screening Check, parents are being reminded of the importance of catching reading difficulties early on. The Phonics Screening Check is an informal test to assess a child’s progress in phonics and reading. It is done one-on-one with a teacher and the child is asked to read a set of words made up of both real and nonsense words. The aim is to assess how well they can use their phonics knowledge to decode unfamiliar words, evaluating their reading progress and identifying areas where they need support. The ten minute test is set to take place in June.

To help your child prepare for this important test, subscribers to the award-winning online program Reading Eggs also have access to the Fast Phonics systematic synthetic phonics program, which has been expertly designed for children aged between five and ten.

By breaking down reading into sets of sounds through engaging and interactive games and activities, Fast Phonics helps children learn to decode words rapidly and improve their reading accuracy, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. From their very first lesson in Fast Phonics, children can practise matching letters and sounds, recognise rhymes and listen to how sounds work to make words.

“The Phonics Screening Check is a vital assessment to pick up any difficulties early on and Fast Phonics in Reading Eggs is designed to help young children overcome these worries, build crucial confidence and make it easier for parents to support literacy development at home,” said the Head of Product at Reading Eggs.

The importance of nurturing a love for reading in young children cannot be overstated. www.readingeggs.co.uk

According to the 2022 Annual Literacy Survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust, which collected data from 8,210 children aged 5–8, reading can positively impact mental wellbeing in children. The results were impressive, with 75.4% of children aged five to eight expressing enjoyment in reading. Additionally, two-thirds of eightyear-olds said reading made them feel better, while 64.1% said it helped them relax and 64% said it brought them happiness. These findings illustrate the tremendous benefits of encouraging children to read and the importance of providing them with the tools to do so.

The Phonics Screening Check is an opportunity for parents and teachers to identify reading struggles early and provide children with the support they need to succeed.

Fast Phonics in Reading Eggs gives your child the resources they need to improve their reading faster and build crucial confidence.

Available online or as an Android or iOS app, Reading Eggs makes learning to read fun for children aged 2–13, with alphabet and spelling games, phonics activities, word puzzles, nursery rhymes and storybooks. Don’t wait until it’s too late to catch reading difficulties in your child.

TURN TO PAGES 22-23 to read about what inspired SF Said to write his latest book Tyger