The Phonics Screening Check is a compulsory part of the UK educational system. The purpose of it is to assess children’s phonics knowledge towards the end of Year One. This check plays a crucial role in ensuring that children develop the necessary skills to decode simple words, which is fundamental to learning how to read.
The Phonics Screening Check takes place during a planned week in June, where teaching staff assess their children’s knowledge and progress in Phonics. The format is a verbal assessment, carried out one to one between the teacher and pupil. Children are asked to read a list of 40 individual words aloud to a familiar teacher in a relaxed environment. The words include both real and nonsense words, sometimes these are referred to as ‘alien’ words. These words are identified with an imaginary creature next to it. All the words are decodable, using sounds from Phases 2-5, which are covered in Reception and Year One.
The Phonics Screening Check has been designed to help gauge children’s phonics skills rather than their ability to memorise words or use clues from pictures. Teachers keep track of correct and incorrect responses, allowing for a clear understanding of each child's phonics knowledge. This will identify whether a child needs additional support to prevent gaps in this crucial area.
After the check, parents are informed of their child's results by the end of the Summer term. For those who don’t pass the check in Year One, there’s a retake scheduled for Year Two, ensuring that every child gets the help and support they need to enhance their reading skills.
In summary, the Phonics Screening Check is a valuable tool for educators and parents. It helps to identify where children are on their reading journey and ensures they receive the necessary support to succeed.
This assessment, although mandatory, is informal and carried out within the normal school day with no time restrictions. In previous years the pass mark has been 32/40. This may be adjusted.
Why not download our Digital Phonics Screening Flashcards, print and laminate them so that sound buttons can be added to support decoding.
Parents, did you know that from birth to age 5, a child's brain undergoes rapid development?
Connections are formed at an incredible rate during this period, making it a critical time for learning and growth. The early years of a child's life are incredibly significant, as they lay the foundation for their cognitive, emotional and social development. From birth to age five, a child's brain is like a sponge, soaking up information and forming connections at an astonishing rate.
In the first year alone, a baby's brain doubles in size. Infants are busy forming connections between what they see, hear, taste, and feel. This sensory interaction is vital, as it helps them understand the world around them. Activities like talking to babies, reading to them, and providing varied sensory experiences can enhance their cognitive development and strengthen these connections.
By age 3, their brain will have reached approximately 80% of adult size. This period is marked by a surge in the number of brain connections, which facilitate learning and memory. Toddlers begin to explore language more actively, and develop social skills. Engaging them in conversations, encouraging play, and introducing them to new experiences are essential for stimulating their growing minds and fostering their emotional and social development. Playtime becomes a vital avenue for learning, allowing children to experiment, solve problems and develop critical thinking skills in a fun and engaging way.
As children approach age 5, their brains continue to grow, reaching approximately 90% of adult size. Significant development occurs in the frontal and temporal lobes, which are responsible for higher cognitive functions such as problem-solving, reasoning, and language skills. During this time, children begin to grasp fundamental concepts like arithmetic, improve their word recall, and develop early reading skills. Providing a rich learning environment, filled with books, educational games, and opportunities for creative play, can greatly nurture their cognitive abilities and prepare them for the challenges of school.
In summary, the 0-5 years are critical in shaping a child's future. The experiences and interactions they have during this time not only enhance their cognitive development but also lay the groundwork for their emotional and social well-being. Parents, caregivers and educators play a vital role in fostering this growth, ensuring that children are supported and encouraged as they navigate their early years. By investing in their development during this crucial period, we can help set them on a path towards lifelong learning and success.
Empowering parents and children with Phonics knowledge and confidence
We had the opportunity to exhibit at the Childcare and Education Expo at Olympia, London, at the end of February and beginning of March 2025. It was an incredible experience for us!
The event brought together a diverse group of professionals from the childcare and education sector, including Childminders, Nannies, Nursery Practitioners, Teaching Assistants, Teachers, Headteachers and Nursery Managers. This variety allowed us to engage with individuals who share our passion for Early Years education and Phonics.
During the busy two-day event, we had the opportunity to showcase our wonderful resources designed to enhance the learning of Phonics and empower parents, practitioners and children with Phonics knowledge and confidence. The feedback we received was invaluable, with everyone expressing positive praise for our products. It was heartening to connect with like-minded individuals who truly understood our mission and the importance of effective Phonics education in early childhood. We were thrilled to see educators excited about implementing our resources into their settings.
Additionally, meeting other exhibitors was a highlight of the show. We enjoyed sharing insights and discussing our respective businesses, fostering connections that we hope will lead to future collaborations.
The atmosphere was vibrant and filled with enthusiasm for improving Early Years education.
Overall, we left the expo feeling inspired and excited for the future (and extremely tired!). The connections we made and the insights we gained will undoubtedly shape our approach moving forwards. We can’t wait to return next year and continue building on the relationships and experiences we gained this time around. The excitement of being part of such a dynamic community reaffirms our commitment to supporting educators and parents with enhancing Phonics learning in a fun, interactive, playful approach for children.
There’s lots of exciting things coming for Sounds Fun Resources and we can’t wait for you to continue following our journey.
Thank you for your continued support.
Claire & Jemma x
As the founders and creators of Sounds Fun Resources, we have more than 25 years combined teaching experience. We are also mums and both extremely passionate about what we do. As busy Mums we know the importance of keeping things organised and together. There is nothing more frustrating than a game with a missing piece or a set of cards that are incomplete. All of our Phonics Flashcards are attached with a single binder ring. This enables you to keep them as a set or use them separately for activities such as word building or for ‘sound hunts’. The moveable pieces in our Phonics Activity Books can be attached with transparent velcro dots when in use or kept in the pouch provided. To avoid confusion, each book has a different coloured border, this corresponds to the border on the pieces.
This is so important as it will give little one’s confidence and the ability to succeed. As professionals and parents, we were tired of seeing generic posters and flashcards with objects starting with letter names, for example - /u/ for unicorn or /i/ for ice. We are teaching children the letter sounds so these would be impossible words to decode and blend successfully. We have designed our resources to give children the confidence to thrive and succeed, building a love of reading and being proud of their achievements.
This is another important aspect of our business. We work closely with our printer to ensure all materials are FSC certified. We have designed all of the products using a recognised font that is commonly used in schools. It is clear and legible and supports all reading abilities, including those children with dyslexia. The inclusion of ‘sound buttons’ is also a method that is introduced in school to aid segmenting and blending. As young children should focus on learning lowercase letters first we don’t introduce uppercase letters immediately. There are matching activities in our Phonics Activity Books and Alphabet Mats as well as dotted letter formation in our Word Building Flashcards and My First Letter Formation Book.
No more throw away worksheets! Designed to be durable so that siblings can also benefit from our wonderful products whilst lowering our carbon footprint. All of our resources are professionally silk laminated to avoid glare. They are wipeable and many products include a dry wipe marker that can be removed with ease.
Schools use a variety of schemes and our resources will simply support and consolidate what they are being taught in school. As experienced teachers, we have used a number of schemes, therefore have a solid understanding to enable our products to enhance learning. In addition to our Phonics Activity Book, we have included 'Guidance and Support' video links. This resource will not only support parents, but will give little ones a solid foundation to begin their Phonics journey.
Our resources are the perfect tools to support intervention groups in schools, or to stretch those that need more of a challenge. If you are homeschooling or want to develop phonics skills at home, these resources will help you achieve that. Our products can be used across the EYFS and Key Stage 1. They align with the different phonics phases and provide easy to access, ready to use materials. They are portable so easy to use between classrooms or around school or great as a grab and go activity when on your travels as a family.
Kinesthetic learning is so important in the early years and beyond. Children must have the opportunities to see it (visual), hear it (auditory), feel it and move (kinesthetic) as well as opportunities for developing reading and writing skills, offering a multi-sensory approach.
Our products scaffold children’s learning through repetition and provide opportunities to put their knowledge into practise, through a variety of interactive and fun activities without ‘screen time’.
Get in touch if you would like more information or visit our website.⠀⠀
If you’re not sure what to buy a little one in your life, please do reach out and let us advise you on how to give the gift of learning.⠀
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Check out our website for full product information and how Sounds Fun Resources is the best choice in supporting you and your children with Phonics success.
Certainly! Phonics is an essential skill for reading, and while there’s no strict requirement to teach it before school, you can certainly lay the groundwork to help your child be well-prepared.
Phonics are broken into phases. These are a structured approach to teaching children how to read and write by focusing on the relationship between sounds and letters. These are the Phonics phases:
Phase 1: Phonological Awareness
Phase 2: Introducing Sounds and Letters
Phase 3: More digraphs and trigraphs
Phase 4: Practise and Consolidation
Phase 5: Alternative Spellings and Vowel Sounds
You can start working on Phase 1 Phonics as soon as your child is born. This phase is all about phonological awareness. This involves developing your child’s ability to hear and recognise different sounds and spoken words. Aural discrimination is so important as children learn to distinguish between different sounds (e.g., recognising rhymes, alliteration).
Speaking and Listening Skills: Work on your child’s speaking and listening abilities by encouraging conversations, storytelling, and active listening. Reading aloud to your child is incredibly beneficial. Exposure to rich language and vocabulary helps build a strong foundation for reading later on.
Play with Sounds: Play games that involve sounds. You can mimic animal sounds, imitate different instruments, and even explore body sounds (like clapping, snapping, or tapping). These playful interactions enhance your child’s phonological awareness.
Read Lots of Books: Reading together is crucial. Choose a variety of books—picture books, rhyming books, and stories with repetitive patterns. Discuss the sounds you encounter. Point out words that rhyme or have similar sounds.
You may notice that your child starts to show an interest in letter sounds, once you are confident that they have a rich experience of sounds in their environment. If so, Phase 2 is your next step.
Phase 2 in Phonics is an exciting stage where children begin to learn the fundamental building blocks of reading and writing, by linking the sounds to written letters. Here are the key aspects of Phase 2:
As experienced teachers, we have used our wealth of knowledge to design and create all of the products at Sounds Fun Resources. These tried and tested Phonics resources support the learning of Phases 2-5. With the overwhelming information regarding Phonics, our resources will support and give you the confidence to introduce sounds and letters correctly at home, in a fun, engaging way. Our ethos is to provide accurate learning through reusable, sustainable, hands-on activities. These are the perfect products to begin your child’s Phonics journey, giving them a head start before starting school.
Remember, there’s no rush. If Phonics is introduced in a varied, playful way, then your little one won’t even realise that they are learning. Enjoy the process, and let your child’s curiosity guide you. When they start school, they’ll already have a solid foundation to build upon!
If you’re not sure what to buy a little one in your life, please do reach out and let us advise you on how to give the gift of learning.⠀
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Check out our website for full product information and how Sounds Fun Resources is the best choice in supporting you and your children with Phonics success.
Phonics - the magical gateway to reading and writing - unlocks the secrets of language for young learners. But what lies at the heart of effective Phonics instruction? The answer lies in the pure sounds - those crisp, unaltered utterances crucial when teaching Phonics.
that form the building blocks of words. Let’s dive into why mastering pure sounds is
Pure sounds, in the context of Phonics, refer to the clear and distinct pronunciation of individual letter sounds. Imagine the sound “f” without adding an unnecessary “uh” at the end. That’s the essence of a pure sound. When children learn to pronounce each letter sound without extra frills, they’re well on their way to decoding words and constructing meaning. In the world of teaching, this extra ‘uh’ added to the end of consonant phonemes is known as a ‘schwa’ and should be avoided.
Teaching pure sounds correctly will not only help your little one decode and blend, it will also enable them to spell phonetic words with accuracy and independence at an early age.
Are shop bought Phonics resources truly the best choice for your children?
While shop bought Phonics resources may appear appealing and affordable, it is crucial to thoroughly assess their effectiveness before choosing them for your children's learning. These resources often come with certain limitations and drawbacks that can impact their usefulness.
One common issue with shop bought Phonics resources is their reliance on eye-catching images to represent phonemes. While visually engaging, these images may not always accurately correspond to the correct sound of the letter. For instance, the letter "i" being represented by an image of ice can be misleading for children who are learning Phonics. It is essential for children to first learn the letter sounds before the letter names, as this foundation greatly aids in word building and blending during the early stages of reading.
Furthermore, these resources often cover phonemes from different phases of Phonics, making it challenging for children who are just starting their Phonics journey to grasp the information presented. Phonics instruction typically follows a systematic progression, introducing phonemes and concepts in a specific order to build upon prior knowledge. When resources jump between different phases, it can disrupt the logical sequence of learning and hinder a child's progress.
Another consideration is that Phonics teaching methods have evolved and advanced over the years. As a result, some of the digraphs and phonetic patterns listed in store-bought resources may no longer be taught in the same way or be part of current Phonics curricula. It is vital for children to have consistency between their school and home environments, using resources that align with their classroom learning. Inconsistencies can confuse children and impede their progress, so it's important to ensure that the resources you choose are up-to-date and in line with current Phonics teaching methods.
On the other hand, resources designed and created by fully qualified and experienced teachers offer distinct advantages. These resources are meticulously developed to align with established Phonics schemes used in schools. They are specifically tailored to enhance learning, build confidence, and promote progress in Phonics. By using these teacher-created resources, you can provide your children with a seamless learning experience that complements their classroom instruction. The expertise and knowledge of these teachers ensure that the resources effectively reinforce the concepts being taught and support the child's overall development.
Ultimately, when deciding on Phonics resources for your children, it is essential to consider their individual needs, the quality of the resources, and their alignment with the child's classroom learning. Evaluating the effectiveness and suitability of store-bought resources, taking into account these factors, can help you make an informed decision that best supports your children's Phonics learning journey.
At Sounds Fun Resources, all of our unique products use phonetic words and objects that can be decoded and read independently with repeated use. Once children’s confidence has grown in this area, they will be able to use these skills to build their own CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words. ⠀
This video is an example of a child who has consistently used our resources. They are confident with the pure sounds and can successfully read CVC words. They wanted (and needed) a challenge so Flashcards Pack 5 were used, these cover Phase 3 Phonics. This was the first time they had seen and used this resource. To say we are impressed is an understatement, as this child is only in Reception. They have proved that our products and use of phonetic objects, support word building and reading. ⠀
If you’re not sure what to buy a little one in your life, please do reach out and let us advise you on how to give the gift of learning.⠀
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Check out our website for full product information and how Sounds Fun Resources is the best choice in supporting you and your children with Phonics success.
