Phonics is a method of teaching beginners how to read and pronounce words by learning to associate letters or letter groups with the sounds the represent. At Emersons Green Primary School, we use a systematic synthetic phonics programme called Essential Letters and Sounds. We use a simple, consistent approach to teaching phonics whereby all children are supported to learn phonemes and graphemes, which they apply to reading and writing. Phonics is taught daily in Reception and Year 1 through whole-class teaching, with follow up interventions and support for children who may require additional teaching.
The progression in Essential Letters and Sounds largely follows the progression of Letters and Sounds (2007), working through phases 2-5 and including opportunities to revisit and revise GPCs. Harder to Read and Spell words are also mapped out into a week-by-week progression. The progression below shows which GPCs and HRS words are taught in each term.
Children will be provided with a fully decodable phonics reading book which is carefully matched to their emerging phonics knowledge. They are expected to read this aloud to an adult at home as often as possible, but at least 4 times each week. This is to allow children plenty of opportunities to practise decoding and blending, before building fluency and finally adding expression and comprehension.
It is essential that children are hearing and pronouncing ‘pure’ sounds and not adding an ‘uh’ to the end. The videos below show clear, pure pronunciation of Phase 2 and Phase 3 sounds.
For more information, please see the Essential Letters and Sounds parent guide on the Oxford Owl website: https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/reading/reading-schemes-oxford-levels/essential-letters-and-sounds/.
In 2011-2012, the government introduced the statutory checking of phonics for Year One children. The Phonics Screening Check is a national check of children’s phonic knowledge that all children in England are required to complete towards the end of the Summer term in Year 1.. The check comprises of a mixture of real and nonsense words which children have to decode/read. Further information can be found here: https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/year-1-phonics-screening-check/.
How to pronounce sounds
