What is Phonics?

Phonics is a method of teaching children how to read and write by matching the sounds of spoken language (phonemes) to individual letters or groups of letters (graphemes). There are three parts to how phonics works:

Decoding: Readers look at written letters, say the sounds out loud, and blend them together to read an unfamiliar word

Segmenting: Writers break a spoken word down into its individual sound parts to figure out how to spell it.

The Code: The English language has 44 distinct speech sounds represented by just 26 alphabet letters, using combinations like digraphs (two letters making one sound, like "sh")

The Phases of Learning

Ages 3–4 (Phase 1): Children build listening skills and tune into environmental or instrumental sounds.

Ages 4–5 (Phases 2–4): Children learn basic letter sounds, blend simple words like "cat," and handle basic consonant combinations.

Ages 5–7 (Phases 5–6): Students tackle advanced spelling patterns, alternative pronunciations, and reading fluency.

ELS (Essential Letters and Sounds)

At Wigton Moor, we use the ELS (Essential Letters and Sounds) phonics scheme. This is consistent from when the children enter in Reception and is used up to year 2. In Year 1, the children will re-cap Phase 3 sounds learnt in Reception and then begin learning the Phase 5 sounds each day in phonics lessons. Children will learn 4 new sounds each week, with one day of consolidation and practise of the sounds learnt that week. The children then move on to learning Phase 5 alternate sounds and different spelling patterns as the year progresses.

Please find the link below to access helpful information about the ELS scheme. Here you will also find links to purchase any Oxford Owl resources to use with your child at home should you wish. 

Oxford Owl E-books

You can access free online e-books for you and your child to read at home, by logging in to your Oxford Owl account using the link below.