What is Phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children to read by helping them recognise the sounds that letters and groups of letters make. We use the Read Write Inc. programme, which introduces sounds in small, manageable steps so children can build their confidence as readers.

The sounds are grouped into sets:

• Set 1 focuses on the simple single-letter sounds (like m, a, s, d, t).
• Set 2 introduces more complex sounds made up of two letters, such as ay, ee, ow. 
• Set 3 covers additional sounds that children need to become fluent readers.

Through this approach, children quickly learn how to blend sounds together to read words and break them down to help with spelling.