What is Phonics?

Phonics is a way of teaching children how to read and write. It helps children hear, identify and use different sounds that distinguish one word from another in the English language, breaking each word up into it’s individual sounds before blending those sounds back together to make the word.  Children learn to ‘decode’ words by breaking it down into sounds rather than having to memorise lots of words individually. Understanding phonics will also help children know which letters to use when they are writing words.

Research has shown that phonics, when taught correctly, can be the most effective way of teaching children to learn to read.

Preparing for Phonics

Pre-phonics learning is a vital component to success in phonics. Children prepare for phonics by learning to listen carefully, remember sounds effectively and talk about sounds in words, whilst developing new vocabulary. At Horden Nursery School, the children have lots of opportunities to develop their listening, attention and awareness of sounds and gain the knowledge that sounds are the building blocks of words– this is called phonological awareness. Phonological awareness and good oral language skills are some of the key skills in beginning to read.

In order to develop children’s phonological awareness and knowledge of letter sounds, we use a range of different strategies that support the children to; develop visual/auditory discrimination and memory, listen and attend, make and control sounds, listen to and discriminate between sounds/phonemes, separate words into syllables, develop an awareness of rhythm, rhyme and alliteration, begin to explore oral blending and segmenting.

During their time at nursery, children experience a balance of adult led focused teaching, alongside building on their awareness of letters and sounds in their self chosen play, such as listening to and identifying the sounds they can hear when playing outside in the garden. Staff also work closely with the children and build on opportunities, that naturally arise within their play, such as, children recognising letters that are special to them within the environment. Carefully planned books, rhymes and poems are shared with children to support their growing phonological awareness.

Staff closely observe the children and if they feel the child is developmentally ready, will plan opportunities which introduce them to the letter sounds and the skills they need to blend and segment words.

When we practise oral blending and segmenting it is important that we say the seperate spoken sounds correctly, modelling, demonstrating and encouraging the use of ‘Pure Sounds’. The short video below will help you and your child with the correct pronunciation of these sounds.

Progression in Pre-phonics

In our nursery we use a Pre-phonics programme, alongside core books, rhymes and repeated reading to ensure progression for all children.

Horden Nursery School Progresson in Phonics Document

Core Stories, Books and Rhymes for 2-3 year olds

Core Books, Stories and Rhymes for 3-4 year olds