What is phonics?
Phonics is a way of teaching children to read. They are taught how to:
- Recognise the sounds that each individual letter makes
- Identify the sounds that different combinations of letters make e.g. sh and oo
- Blend these sounds together from left to right to make a word.
Children can then use this knowledge to segment and blend new words that they hear or see.
Why phonics?
Research shows that when phonics is taught in a structured way – starting with the easiest sounds and progressing through to the most complex – it is the most effective way of teaching young children to read.
All children are individuals and develop at different rates. A phonics screening check at the end of Year One ensures that teachers understand which children need extra help with phonic decoding.