The Smallberry Green Primary School
Phonics information
We teach our phonics using the ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme. In
Reception we work through phases 1- 5. Below are the sounds we learn and
some of the words that children should be able to read by either decoding
or know by sight (tricky words).
Phase 1
This is an ongoing phase throughout Nursery and Reception and often into
Key Stage 1.
Singing, rhythm, playing with words (rhymes and alliteration)
Phase 2
This phase is taught in Reception and revisited in Year 1.
Letter progression (one set per week)
Set 1: s a t p
Set 2: i n m d
Set 3: g o c k
Set 4: ck e u r
Set 5: h b f, ff l, ll ss
Decodable words can be broken down into their sounds by the child.
Tricky words need to be recognized and known (i.e. learn them off by heart!)
Decodable words
a
an
as
at
if
in
is
it
of
off
on
can
dad
had
back
and
get
big
him
his
not
got
up
mum
but
put (north)
Tricky words
the
to
I
no
go
into
Phase 3
This phase follows phase 2 and is only taught after a child is confident in the
previous phase.
Set 6: j v w x
Set 7: y z, zz qu
Then we teach the following sounds which are made up of more than one
letter:
Sound
ch
sh
th
ng
ai
ee
igh
oa
oo
Example of word
with this sound
chip
shop
thin/then
ring
rain
feet
night
boat
boot/look
Sound
Example of word
with this sound
farm
for
hurt
cow
coin
dear
fair
sure
corner
ar
or
ur
ow
oi
ear
air
ure
er
Decodable words can be broken down into their sounds by the child.
Tricky words need to be recognized and known (i.e. learn them off by heart!)
Decodable words
will
see
that
for
this
now
then
down
them
look
with
too
Tricky words
you
they
all
are
my
her
he
she
we
me
be
was
Phase 4 and 5 are taught only when the child is confident using phase 3
sounds in reading and writing.
Phase 4
Decodable words can be broken down into their sounds by the child.
Tricky words need to be recognized and known (i.e. learn them off by heart!)
Decodable words
went
it’s
from
children
just
help
Tricky words
said
have
like
so
do
some
come
were
there
little
one
when
out
what
Phase 5
Sound
Example
word
ay
day
ou
out
ie
pie
ea
sea
oy
boy
ir
girl
ue
clue
Sound
Example
word
aw
saw
wh
when
ph
phonics
ew
blew
oe
toe
au
Paul
ey
money
Split sound
Example of
words with
this sound
a-e
came
made
make
e-e
these
Pete
gene
i-e
like
pine
time
o-e
bone
pole
home
Teach reading the words oh, their, people, Mr, Mrs, looked,
called, asked
Teach spelling the words said, so, have, like, some, come, were,
there
then go on to learning to read
water, where, who, again, thought,
through, work, mouse, many, laughed, because, different,
any, eyes, friends, once, please
and spell little, one, do, when, what, out, oh, their, people, Mr, Mrs, looked,
called, asked
u-e
June
huge
flute