Phonics and reading
How is it taught?
What should I expect my child to
know?
How can I help my child at home?
Phase 1
• Children are taught to distinguish between
the sounds that they hear
• They play games to develop their listening
skills
• They learn rhymes and songs
• They play oral blending games
Phase 2
• Children are taught the sounds that single
letters make
• Grapheme- what it looks like
• Phoneme- what it sounds like
• By the end of phase 2 children can read
VC and CVC words
• it, an, on, is, at etc.
• Cat, tip, pot, dad, hat etc.
Phase 2 ‘Tricky words’
• Alongside the ‘sounding out’ words
children are taught to recognise some
words that they cannot read using phonics
• I
no
go
to
the
Phase 3
• Children are introduced to digraphs and
trigraphs
• A digraph is a phoneme (sound) made by
2 letters together
• A trigraph is a phoneme made by 3 letters
together
Phase 3
• By the end of phase 3 children can read
words containing the graphemes;
• ai ee oa oo th sh ch ng or ur er ow oi qu
zz ll ss
• Igh ure ear air
• They can now read a wider range of words
such as; night, feet, beard, boat, now,
chair etc.
Phase 3 ‘Tricky words’
• The tricky words that children are taught to
read in phase 3 are;
• all, they, she, he, we, me, my, was, you
are her
• Children are also expected to spell phase
2 tricky words correctly
• I no go to the
Phase 4
• There are no new graphemes in this
phase.
• This phase focuses on hearing consonant
clusters in words e.g. smart frog just help
from
• Tricky words in phase 4 are; said have like
so do some
• little
one
come
when
were
out
there
what
Phase 5
• Children are taught new graphemes; ay
ie oy aw wh ph
ew oe
au ey
• And the split digraphs; i_e e_e o_e
u_e a_e
• The tricky words are; oh their people
Mr Mrs looked called asked
could
Phase 5
• Also in phase 5 children are taught that
the graphemes they have learnt may make
different phonemes.
• This phase takes A LONG TIME!!!
• For example a child in phase 3 can read
cow but not blow- in phase 5 they will
learn that ‘ow’ can make two different
sounds
A quick practise!
• Use your knowledge of phonics to read the
words;
• anaphylaxis
• agency
• water
• precipitation
• What did you need to know in order to
read these words?
How do we teach new
graphemes?
 For 20 minutes each day the children
across EYFS and KS1 work on the phase
they are on in small groups.
 During each session the children will
read and write tricky words, the
graphemes they are learning as well as
revisit ones they know already
 We play games too!
Games you can play at
home








Sound buttons
Buried treasure
Phoneme fingers
Flashcards
Phoneme frames
Log on to www.phonicsplay.co.uk
Log on to www.letters-and-sounds.com
www.ictgames.com this site has a literacy
section where you can find phonics activities
Your child can read and
write!
• A couple of do’s and don’ts
• DO
• - allow your child time to decode- even if it’s a little
frustrating!
• - support them by telling them the first sound
• - tell them words that they could not be expected to
decode, or if they have forgotten the tricky word
• - let them finish the sentence- then work out for
themselves if what they said made sense
• - give lots of praise and encouragement
• - repeat the sentence they have read back to them
• DON’T
• - rush your child or tell them they know this word!
Questions?