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.

Written language can be compared to a code, so knowing the sounds of individual letters and how those letters sound when they’re combined will help children decode words as they read.

Phonics involves matching the sounds of spoken English with individual letters or groups of letters. For example, the sound k can be spelled as c, k, ck or ch.

Our school uses the Jolly Phonics programme as its approach to teaching phonics in the Foundation Stage (P1 and P2).  This programme is multi-sensory and active, with fun actions, stories and songs.

Teaching children to blend the sounds of letters together helps them decode unfamiliar or unknown words by sounding them out. For example, when a child is taught the sounds for the letters t, p, a and s, they can start to build up the words: “tap”, “taps”, “pat”, “pats” and “sat”.

Children need to know the letter sounds to learn to read and spell.

This page is designed to provide you with as much information and support as possible. The links and video clips are very useful and we strongly recommend that you use this page at home with your child. 

Correct pronunciation of the sounds

Please watch and listen to the video link below to hear the correct way to say the sounds. Please note that some of the sounds in this video are not taught in our Jolly Phonics programme (ge, air).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJx1NSineE

Jolly Phonics songs

For each sound taught in Primary One there is a story, song and action to help your child learn the sound more easily. Encourage your child to join in with these songs at home too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjfDfRCHe0w

Writing in P1 and P2- Correct Letter Formation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYYSBProJH4&t=3s